COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE The annual Union work programme for European standardisation
Date: 2013-07-31
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: European standard, European standardisation body, environmental standard, harmonisation of standards, marketing standard, quality standard, technical standard













EUR-Lex - 52013DC0561 - EN











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52013DC0561

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE The annual Union work programme for European standardisation /* COM/2013/0561 final */









COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
COMMITTEE
The annual Union work programme for
European standardisation
(Text with EEA relevance)
1.           Introduction
Europe’s goal is to
create growth and jobs in a smart, sustainable and inclusive way through the
Europe 2020 strategy[1]
and its flagship initiatives. The importance of standardisation for jobs,
growth and economic recovery was reiterated most recently in the Commission’s
Industrial Policy Update “A Stronger European Industry for Growth and Economic
Recovery” adopted in October 2012[2].
From research to production, from producer to
consumer, from Europe to the rest of the world, European standards remove
barriers, safeguard users, protect the environment, ensure interoperability,
reduce costs and encourage competition. Studies show that standardisation adds between
0.3% and 1% to GDP[3]
thereby helping industry towards the target of contributing 20% of the EU’s GDP
by 2020[4].
In order to ensure that Europe’s
standardisation system can meet today’s challenges of rapid innovation,
sustainability, convergence of technologies and fierce global competition, the
Commission proposed a reform package in 2011[5]
including a new Regulation which took effect from 1 January 2013[6]. This reform aimed at
increasing the system’s inclusiveness, responsiveness, transparency, flexibility
and scope.
One innovation of the reform is the obligation
for the Commission to adopt an annual Union work programme for European standardisation.
This work programme identifies strategic priorities for European
standardisation taking into account the Union’s long-term strategies for growth
and sets out the objectives for the international dimension of European
standardisation in support of Union legislation and policies.
It indicates the European standards and other
standardisation deliverables that the Commission intends to request from the
European standardisation organisations (ESOs) – CEN, CENELEC and ETSI – in the
coming year and the specific objectives and policies they support. This
primarily concerns standards providing a presumption of conformity with the
requirements of Union harmonisation legislation.
The Commission also supports European
standardisation activities which help to achieve other EU policy objectives and
this work programme invites the ESOs to initiate activities in all priority
domains, including those without the legal provisions needed to underpin a
formal Commission standardisation request (mandate).
European standards developed by the ESOs at the
initiative of undertakings, national standardisation bodies or other
stakeholders which are not linked to EU policies, are not covered in this work
programme.
This annual work programme anticipates future
orientations and actions as accurately as possible. These
orientations have no budgetary impact beyond that already foreseen and support
for work items depends on the availability of funding, the submission of
quality proposals and agreement with the relevant ESOs, national standards
bodies or other bodies foreseen in the Regulation. In cases of urgency, e.g.
after formal objections to harmonised standards, the Commission may issue
mandates not foreseen in this work programme.
The transparency brought about by the publication
of this Union work programme is expected to increase efficiency and a better
forward planning of work.
At the same time, the Commission will:
–              
Seek improvements to the Framework Partnership
Agreements with the ESOs which expire this year, in order to maintain the
highest possible quality while also continuing to reduce the average time
needed to develop standardisation deliverables;
–              
Organise calls for proposals in relation to
European representation of SMEs, consumers and environmental and social stakeholder
organisations in standardisation work. While this will facilitate SME
participation by providing financing, the Commission will also continue to support
specific projects facilitating SME access and participation in standardisation;
–              
Continue its work on ICT standardisation via the
multi-stakeholder platform[7]
another of the innovations in the 2011 standardisation package. The permanent
dialogue between public authorities, stakeholders and standards development
organisations, including global fora and consortia, has proven, in the short
time since it was set-up to be able to respond to the fast nature of
developments in this field. A detailed rolling plan for ICT standardisation has
been developed and is updated allowing the Union to respond to the rapidly
evolving digital world.
Before the end of 2013, the Commission will
launch an independent review of the governance of the standardisation system to
evaluate whether the strategic objectives of the reform have been achieved. It
will assess if, in a longer term perspective, the European standardisation
system is able to adapt to the quickly evolving environment and to contribute
to Europe’s strategic internal and external objectives, in particular in the
field of industrial policy, innovation and technological development. It will
also examine if the European standardisation system is adequate from the point
of view of market needs, of inclusiveness and of representativeness. 
The results of the independent review will be
assessed by the Commission to identify options which could further improve the
European standardisation system and its capacity to support Europe’s strategic
policy objectives.
2.           Strategic
Priorities for European Standardisation
2.1.        A
Stronger European Industry for Growth and Economic Recovery
The Commission’s recent Industrial Policy
Communication update noted the need to develop standards for new technologies
before their first introduction on the market. It identified six fast-growing
areas for priority action: advanced manufacturing technologies, key enabling
technologies, bio-based products, sustainable industrial and construction policy
and raw materials, clean vehicles, and smart grids.
2.1.1.     Advanced
manufacturing technologies
The Commission-led Task Force for Advanced
Manufacturing Technologies for Clean Production will identify where further
standardisation could contribute to market uptake. Later, the Commission
expects to launch a feasibility study for European and
international standardisation activities in this area.
2.1.2.     Key
enabling technologies (KETs)
During the coming year, the Commission will
examine where further standardisation in the KETs area could help ensure the
timely development of the Internal Market for KETs-based products, one of the
aspects covered in the Commission initiative to review of the internal market
legislation for industrial products[8].
Through its research facilities and funding
programmes, the Commission will support the development of European standards
for characterisation methodologies of nanomaterials in manufactured form necessary
for toxicity and eco-toxicity testing, sampling and measurement methods of
exposure, and methods to simulate exposures to nanomaterials. A coherent
approach with activities in the OECD is needed and the ESOs should collaborate
closely with international standardisation bodies.
2.1.3.     Bio-based
products 
Establishing an Internal Market for bio-based
products requires standards development and updated regulations. The Commission
expects the ESOs to continue working on mandates for bio-fuels and bio-based
products, including bio-fuels in general, as well as on specific mandates for
bio-polymers, lubricants, solvents and surfactants. Pre-normative research for
the development of test methods applicable to the measurement of bio-based
content, functionalities and sustainability criteria of innovative bio-based
products e.g. bio-polymers, lubricants, solvents and surfactants, is also to be
considered. Pyrolysis oils and algae could also be areas for standardisation
linked to bio-fuels products.
2.1.4.     Sustainable
industrial policy, construction and raw materials
2.1.4.1.  Construction products
European standards should adapt to new
requirements taking account of sustainability aspects of construction products,
processes and works, as well as innovative products in order to strengthen the
Internal Market.
The Commission has
provided technical expertise to the preparation of the draft horizontal
standard for the determination of emissions of regulated dangerous substances
in construction products.
To enhance the competitiveness of EU building
services the Commission will promote the international uptake of Eurocodes
structural design standards under the Action Plan on Sustainable
Competitiveness of the Construction Sector[9].
In the Commission’s TOP-10 survey[10] in late 2012, some respondents
said that for them the full benefit of the simplification resulting from the last
revision of the construction product regulation depended on updating the
European Standard on execution of steel and aluminium structures. The
Commission will consult stakeholders and may request the rapid updating of the
standard.
2.1.4.2.  Steel
European standards could promote sustainable
production of steel construction products. The steel industry is already developing
the Steel Construction Products Mark – SustSteel. The Commission will examine
the potential of SustSteel to boost the market share of European sustainable
steel construction products and may request specific standardisation
activities.
2.1.4.3.  Ecodesign/Energy-related
products 
Different products have been covered under the
Ecodesign Directive[11],
including motors, pumps, fans, lighting products and household goods. So far
energy use has been the focus however the Directive addresses all environmental
aspects, including material and resource efficiency. In this respect, standards
related to resource efficiency such as recyclability indexes or durability of
components or other environmental parameters (e.g. emissions of pollutants to
air) will be developed, so as to facilitate the characterisation of potential
ecodesign requirements in additional areas.
The Commission will prepare technical
amendments to the existing mandate relating to harmonised standards in the
field of Ecodesign[12]
in support of the following Ecodesign product regulations:
·              
small, medium and large power transformers;
·              
professional storage cabinets, blast cabinets,
process chillers, condensing units and walk-in cold rooms;
·              
ventilation systems;
·              
lighting products;
·              
space and water heaters.
Depending on the development of further
implementing measures, additional technical updates might be prepared for
products covered by the existing mandate.
Under the Ecodesign Working Plan 2012-14[13], possible ecodesign and/or
energy labelling requirements will be considered for new product groups. The
priority list includes window products, smart appliances/meters, wine storage
appliances, steam boilers, enterprise servers, power cables and water-related
products. The Commission will update the ecodesign mandate so that technical
amendments for specific products can be issued as necessary.
2.1.4.4.  Waste recycling
New European standards for graded qualities of
recycled materials (e.g. metals, wood and textiles) would foster market
development. The Commission expects new standardisation work to develop and
validate (inter-laboratory comparison) methods for:
·              
waste characterisation for hazardous property H
12 – release of an acute toxic gas category 1, 2 or 3;
·              
determining elements and substances in waste
relevant for health and environmental hazards (hazardous properties H 4, 5, 6,
7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14);
·              
sustainability and toxicity standards for
recycled bio-wastes or agricultural by-products (others than fertilisers). 
2.1.4.5.  Non-energy,
non-agricultural, raw materials
The European Innovation Partnership on Raw
Materials[14]
brings together stakeholders to accelerate the market uptake of technological
and other solutions. The Commission is preparing a Strategic Implementation
Plan with input from stakeholders, which could foresee standardisation work.
2.1.5.     Clean
vehicles and vessels
The CARS 2020 Communication[15] foresees coordinated policy
actions supporting the market introduction of clean vehicles, including the
deployment of plug-in electric and hybrid vehicles requiring timely standards or
requirements for recharging infrastructure. The Clean Power for Transport
package[16]
will require the development of new European standards to be requested by the
Commission.
International agreements on common standards
and regulations, notably in the UNECE framework, will save costs and speed up
market growth. The Commission has also launched a joint initiative with the US, China and Japan, to explore further common regulatory approaches for electric vehicles on safety
and environmental issues.
The Commission will conduct pre-normative
research on battery safety and hydrogen storage for automotive application.
This will provide a scientific and technological basis for safety related
issues of electrical components of rechargeable energy storage systems.
It will also – in the framework of
international collaboration, particularly with the US – perform pre-normative
research into measurement and testing methodologies to characterise the
performance of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. It will also provide
technical input to the development of worldwide standardised/harmonised test
cycles and procedures for all light-duty vehicles and electrified vehicles.
2.1.6.     Smart
grids
Adequate infrastructure, including storage and
capacity balancing solutions, is needed to integrate renewable energy into the
electricity system, contribute to energy efficiency, and accommodate new
demands. Standards ensuring the interoperability of smart grids across borders
and a common minimum set of standards are needed.
In December 2012 the steering committee of the
Smart Grids Task Force set up by the Commission in 2009[17], endorsed an iteration of the mandate[18] to support European Smart Grid
deployment for 2013-14 to address two main topics: 
·              
system interoperability testing methods and a
conformance testing map,
·              
implementation of the methodologies developed
and a second set of standards.
The Commission will contribute to this work in
the light of the European policies and the Transatlantic Economic Council work
programme on smart-grid/e-vehicle interoperability.
2.2.        Strengthening
the internal market in goods and services
The Internal Market is a vital motor of growth
and jobs. European standards boost competitiveness by reducing production
costs, assuring quality and performance, and ensuring that innovative
technologies can come to market. Harmonised standards go further: compliance
also guarantees the required safety level of products.
2.2.1.     Child
safety
The Commission will request the development of
European standards for baby slings, soft and framed carriers, baby bouncers,
swings and similar articles in support of the General Product Safety Directive[19] (GPSD). Standards on playgrounds and playing field equipment may
also be requested. 
2.2.2.     Safety
of other consumer products
While the rapid alert system for dangerous
non-food products – RAPEX – ensures that dangerous products are now more
readily identified and removed from the EU market, safety at source is still
the key focus. Under the GPSD, the Commission expects to issue requests for
European standards covering alcohol-powered flueless fireplaces, candles,
barbecues and outdoor furniture. The importance of
these issues was again highlighted in the Commission’s February 2013 market
surveillance and product safety package[20]
which contains a proposal for a new regulation on consumer product safety
(GPSR).
2.2.3.     Feed
and food quality and safety
New or improved globally-accepted food safety and
quality standards are needed to address the effects of globalisation on food production,
trade and consumption, including for organic food products which are
increasingly present in international trade exchanges. This requires high level
research in the area of food safety standards and new methodologies and/or
reference material which will have to be validated and certified to be used in
official controls of food and feed.
The improvement of existing methods, the
development of further standardised methods of analysis and the validation of
existing standards to new food matrices is required to guarantee a uniform and
effective enforcement of EU legislation[21] in all
Member States and to ensure a high level of safety.
The Commission will contribute to the provision
of technical expertise and the submission of collaboratively validated methods
for the detection and determination of undesired substances in food and feed.
2.2.4.     Cosmetics
In the framework of the Cosmetics Regulation[22], the Commission may request
standardisation activities with regard to good manufacturing practices and
sampling and analysis of cosmetic products.
2.2.5.     Fibre
composition of textile products
Under the Textile Regulation[23] the Commission expects to
issue a standardisation mandate on the quantitative analysis of textile fibre
mixtures since current quantification methods of EN ISO standards differ from
those described in the Regulation.
2.2.6.     Fertilisers
The main objective of the future proposal to
revise the Fertilisers Regulation[24]
is to extend its scope from only inorganic fertilisers to other categories of
products currently covered by national rules. The Commission is likely to
request new standards to cover terminology, a list of types per specific
product category, further clarification of labelling requirements, requirements
for chemical composition and agricultural efficacy as well as test methods.
The ESOs will be asked to verify that the
horizontal analytical standards developed for sludge, biodegradable waste and
soil are also applicable to organic fertilisers and organic soil improvers. Specific
methods for plant biostimulants and specific fertiliser additives need to be
developed and validated.
2.2.7.     Safety
of offshore machinery
Standardisation is necessary to improve the
safety of equipment for the offshore oil and gas industry. Following the
rejection of the mandate[25]
in the field of equipment used in the offshore oil and gas industry by the
ESOs, the Commission will request standardisation for certain specific items of
safety-critical equipment.
2.2.8.     Air
transport
The Interoperability Regulation[26] addresses the modernisation of
the European air traffic management network. In March 2013 a mandate[27] was issued requesting the ESOs
to develop, in cooperation with the European Organisation for Civil Aviation
Equipment (EUROCAE), and in close coordination with the European Aviation
Safety Agency (EASA), a list of European standards identified in the roadmap of
the European ATM Master Plan and already under development at EUROCAE. The
detailed list of standards is provided as an Annex to the Mandate, but will be
amended according to the periodic ATM Master Plan update. 
The GNSS (EGNOS and GALILEO related) standards
for aviation of the ATM Master plan for Step 2 and 3 Essential Operational
Changes are covered in section 2.2.13.2 and some specific security standards
for aviation are covered in section 2.2.14 of this work programme.
These European standards should also be
promoted worldwide, mainly through the International Civil Aviation
Organisation (ICAO), to ensure global interoperability.
A global market for remotely piloted aircraft
systems (RPAS) is emerging with a considerable growth and employment potential.
To help materialise this potential, standards are needed for the progressive
integration of RPAS into the European air traffic management system. These will
be considered into the revised standardisation roadmap of the ATM Master plan.
2.2.9.     Rail
transport
To take full advantage of establishing an area
without internal borders, the interlinking and interoperability of the national
rail networks and access thereto must be improved. New European standards are
required in support of the following:
·              
Fire spread prevention measures;
·              
European ticketless and ticket on departure for
rail;
The Commission will make a proposal to revise
the technical specification for interoperability relating to persons with
reduced mobility to simplify its content and facilitate its application.
The Commission is also currently preparing an initiative to
accelerate the penetration of innovative solutions to achieve a fully
integrated and interoperable European railway system. It will include how
European research and innovation activities, covering the whole innovation
cycle, can be better coordinated and focused to support both the Single
European Railway Area (SERA) and the competitiveness of the European rail
industry.
2.2.10.   Alternative fuels
Standardisation will be needed to implement the
Clean Power for Transport package, including the European Alternative Fuels
Strategy and the proposal for a directive on the deployment of alternative
fuels infrastructure[28].
Technical specifications for interoperability
of recharging and refuelling points for electricity, hydrogen, LNG and CNG as
detailed in the proposed directive should be specified in European standards
which are fully compatible with relevant international standards. 
While the ESOs are already working on a mandate
for injection of biomethane into the natural gas grid and on higher FAME blends
into diesel fuel for heavy duty vehicles, for biofuels, standards for higher
ethanol blends into gasoline fuel should also be developed. 
The Commission will support standardisation
work addressing natural gas pipeline injection of
biomethane, biomethane use as a vehicle fuel and methods for measuring the
biomethane content in the natural gas grid. It will also support faster market
introduction of advanced concepts by harmonisation and development of standards
for photovoltaic technology.
2.2.11.   Safety
of infrastructure[29]
The Commission will run a network of stakeholders from critical infrastructure
protection in nine thematic areas (aviation security, explosives, resistance of
structures, chemical, biological threats in water, radiological and nuclear
threats, earthquakes, video surveillance and biometric). The work on testing
guidelines, common test protocols, testing standards and recommendations for
certification and policy requirements will also support existing and future
mandates.
The Commission may also consult stakeholders on
the Directive on road safety infrastructure management[30] and this could lead to a
mandate for a common certification system of safety performances for roads. In a
second step requirements may be established to guarantee a minimum level of
safety across the whole Trans European Road Network, without prejudice to the
requirements of the Regulation on construction products[31].
2.2.12.   Wireless
communications
The development and updating of harmonised
standards under existing mandates is essential. The Commission may prepare new
mandates on:
(1)         
development and maintenance of mobile
communications standards (UMTS, LTE, LTE advanced…) in the framework of the 3rd
Generation Partnership Project (3GPP),
(2)         
efficient use of radio spectrum for coexistence
of mobile communication services and the operation of radio equipment and
broadcast receivers in adjacent frequency bands.
2.2.13.   Space
at the service of citizens[32]
2.2.13.1.          Standards for
upstream and downstream space industry
Space standardisation addresses the priorities
set out in the EU space strategy and in the European space industrial policy.
The needs are defined in a mandate to develop standardisation regarding space industry[33] which covers the period
2011-13 however, if appropriate, the Commission could extend this to 2014-15.
Under this mandate, the ESOs should address a
range of topics including navigation and positioning receivers, integration of
navigation and positioning with telecommunications, information exchange, data
formats, integration of mobile, fixed and global navigation satellite systems,
planetary protection, space situational awareness monitoring, dual-use ground
segment interfaces and payload interfaces.
2.2.13.2.          Standards for
European GNSS Programmes
Standardisation is required to support the
deployment and implementation of the European satellite navigation systems
(EGNOS and Galileo). Although their exact level of maturity for a given year is
difficult to predict, the standardisation needs to be covered include
mass-market receivers for terrestrial applications, next generation Satellite Based
Augmentation Systems, civil aviation user equipment
with EUROCAE, Galileo signals and services in the ICAO context, the
introduction of Galileo for the positioning of mobile devices and a roadmap for
the “EGNOS Enabled” label.
2.2.14.   Security
Standardisation actions have been launched as
set out in the “Security Industrial Policy – Action Plan for an innovative and
competitive Security Industry”[34].
On the basis of the outcome of the on-going mandate, the Commission foresees
the following:
·              
Minimum detection standards and sampling
standards for chemical, biological, radioactive, nuclear and explosive
substances (CBRNE), including in the area of aviation security,
·              
Common technical and interoperability standards
for Automated Border Control (ABC) systems and for biometric identifiers,
·              
Standards for communication, command and control
as well as organisational interoperability in the area of crisis management /
civil protection, including for mass notification of the population.
Moreover, other actions are expected to result
in further standardisation, namely on:
·              
‘Hybrid’ standards applicable both to civil
security and defence technologies, e.g. on CBRNE and sense and avoid
technologies,
·              
Privacy by design/default standards for the
implementation of privacy management issues during the development and
production of security technologies and products.
2.2.15.   Nuclear
Safety and Security
The EU aims to ensure that the peaceful uses of
nuclear energy take place with the highest standards of nuclear safety,
security and non- proliferation. The international initiative on a holistic
Safety, Security and Safeguards (“3S”) concept for nuclear energy was launched
with the Nuclear Safety and Security Group (NSSG) at the G8 summit in 2008, and
is converging on the idea of internationally binding security and safety
standards.
The Commission contributes to the major nuclear
safety and security standardisation activities which include:
·              
Interoperability of Engineering Materials Data
(ELSSI-EMD),
·              
Illicit Trafficking Radiation Assessment
Programme for an evaluation and performance comparison of radiation detection
equipment,
·              
Standardisation of data formats, reference
materials for nuclear safeguards, forensics,
·              
Radiological/Nuclear Information Exchange in Europe,
·              
Nuclear power plant instrumentation and control
systems important for safety and security.
The Commission will also contribute to the
development of standard formats for engineering materials data and use these
data formats for efficient storage and transfer of nuclear materials
information.
2.2.16.   Chemicals
Standards contribute to a harmonised approach
towards enforcement of the Regulation on Registration, Evaluation,
Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH)[35] in
Member States. Currently, the ESOs need to address the development of (further)
analytical methods:
·              
aimed at determining the presence/concentration
of lead (expressed as metal) in consumer articles in different matrices, 
·              
for the migration of lead compounds from
consumer articles taking into consideration different matrices,
·              
for determining the presence/concentration of
eight polycyclic-aromatic hydrocarbons (BaP, BeP, BaA, CHR, BbFA, BjFA, BkFA,
DBAhA) in consumer articles,
·              
for determining the concentration of chromium VI
compounds in leather articles,
·              
for the migration from consumer articles of the
above substances (eight polycyclic-aromatic hydrocarbons and chromium VI
compounds) under reasonably foreseeable conditions of use.
The generation of standard data on chemicals
will also improve its acceptance by all stakeholders and reduce the cost of
assessment of chemicals for industry.
2.2.17.   Horizontal services
standards[36]
In order to facilitate completion of the
Internal Market for services, the Commission issued a mandate[37] for the programming and development of horizontal service standards
in 2013.
2.2.18.   Safety of specific services
This work item is subject to the outcome of a
broad consultation of stakeholders provisionally scheduled for the second half
of 2013. If input from stakeholders leads to the conclusion that service safety
standardisation, e.g. on hotel fire safety, would receive wide support, this
option should be kept open.
2.2.19.   Healthcare
services[38]
An important function of standards for services
is to establish a common benchmark for essential services. This holds for the
growing sector of healthcare services particularly for chronic,
non-communicable diseases. As regards standardisation, specific areas for ESO
mandates might be foreseen for horizontal aspects like patient safety and registration,
for disease-specific accreditation schemes like breast cancer care services,
and for stage-specific services like rehabilitation services.
The Commission will launch a feasibility study
to identify existing international and national standards and examine the
extent to which they are used and meet health system needs. It will also define
conditions under which standards for health services could be developed,
including in relation with clinical standards and the participation of relevant
stakeholders in standard development.
2.2.20.   Accessibility
The Commission is preparing a European
Accessibility Act and is considering requesting standardisation work to cover certain
goods and services where there are no EU level accessibility standards. The
Commission will also consider the need for additional work in relevant areas
covered by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with disabilities.
Further, the Commission recently adopted a
proposal for a Directive on the accessibility of public sector bodies’
websites. The Commission is considering whether additional standardisation work
is required in support of both legal acts in light of the ongoing work under
mandates in support of European accessibility requirements for public
procurement in the ICT domain[39] and in the built environment[40] and the
mandate to include “Design for All” in relevant standardisation initiatives[41].
In addition, further to the Commission
Communication ‘Europe, the world's No 1 tourist destination’[42] the use of standardisation deliverables is being considered to identify
commonly agreed specifications for the universal design of tourism services and
to address training requirements to ensure that tourism services are more
accessible.
2.3.        Innovation
By codifying information on the state of the
art of a particular technology, standards enable dissemination of knowledge,
interoperability between new products, services and digital content and provide
a platform for innovation.
In high technology areas, standards assist
growth through internationally agreed terminology, measurement and
characterisation methods. Protocols for health and safety evaluation can also
remove a barrier to innovation in areas such as nanotechnology and these may be
the subject of future mandates.
Scientific activities make a key contribution
to the standardisation process. The methodologies, processes and materials that
lead to standards are defined, partly or wholly, by available scientific
knowledge. For example, the Commission can help identify future technology developments
where early standardisation could help European industry. 
In the context of eco-innovation, the
Commission could also favour a system where the next benchmark in terms of
resource efficiency would be known in advance, therefore allowing front-runner
businesses to enhance their global competitiveness.
2.3.1.     Innovation
Partnerships
European Innovation Partnerships (EIPs) act
across the whole research and innovation chain, bringing together all relevant
actors at EU, national and regional levels to help anticipate and fast-track
any necessary regulation and standards.
The EIP on Active and Healthy
Ageing[43]
aims to ensure interoperability and tackle possible
market access obstacles through standards and reference specifications for new
equipment and services for integrated care and independent living. Standards
should also play an important role within other EIPs, e.g. on Agricultural Sustainability
and Productivity[44],
on Smart Cities and Communities[45],
and on Water[46].
2.3.2.     Science
in Standards
The CEN/CENELEC working group to address
standardisation, innovation and research (STAIR) is an example of how the ESOs
maintain regular communication with the science community however such links
need to be extended. The Commission will therefore create a forum to improve
communication between science and standards, jointly convened by the European
Association of Research and Technology Organisations (EARTO), the ESOs and the
Commission.
2.3.3.     System
of Systems
Looking ahead, the increasing technological
interpenetration needed to address societal challenges should be reflected in a
systems approach to certain standardisation activities. For cases referred to
elsewhere (smart cities, smart grid, electric vehicles, etc.) the ESOs have set
up dedicated coordination groups that bring together and steer the activities
of the technical bodies involved.
More such groups are expected in coming years,
in particular to support horizontal mandates. These could foresee the setting
up of specific System Groups e.g. evaluation groups for setting boundaries,
groups working at the system level or resource groups delivering specialised
tools and software.
2.4.        Digital Agenda for Europe[47]
Standards are indispensable for
interoperability between ICT products, services, applications and digital
content which is crucial for building an effective digital society. Given the
global nature of the ICT market, cooperation between the ESOs and relevant fora
and consortia is needed to cope with the ever-growing demand for standards to
support interoperability in this fast evolving domain.
The rolling plan for ICT standardisation[48] identifies in greater detail
the areas where standards could help achieve ICT-related policy objectives
including through complementary interoperability testing and awareness actions
to ensure the effective uptake of standards.
2.4.1.     eHealth 
Interoperability, in particular cross-border,
is crucial for the widespread use of ICT in the health sector as stipulated in
the directive on patients’ rights in cross border healthcare[49]. At the same time data
protection issues must be addressed if new products and services are to be
fully exploited. The objective is to make better use of available standards and
develop new ones if necessary.
Studies show that European and international
standards are often not specific enough to ensure interoperability of ICT
solutions in eHealth[50].
With advice from the eHealth Network, more detailed specifications, e.g. for
public procurement, will be identified to contribute to the eHealth Interoperability
Framework. The Commission proposes to boost interoperability by further
developing and validating specifications and components and also through
standardisation mandates if necessary.
2.4.2.     Radio frequency identification (RFID)
Data protection, privacy and information
security aspects are being addressed in response to the mandate in the field of
ICT applied to RFID[51]. The objective of the first phase was to prepare a complete
framework for the development of future RFID standards and the work in the
second phase which is ongoing, will produce a set of European standards,
technical specifications and reports by early 2014.
2.4.3.     eSkills
and eLearning
As noted in the Commission Communication on
"eSkills for the 21st Century"[52],
pan-European competences frameworks, tools, and efficient and interoperable
eLearning solutions foster the development of ICT-related skills and promote lifelong
learning. New standardisation actions are foreseen in the following fields:
·              
eCompetences frameworks for ICT users, ICT
practitioners and e-leaders,
·              
Recommendations and guidelines on new curriculum
development for ICT practitioners and e-leaders,
·              
European eLearning quality standards to ensure
harmonisation, usage and implementation,
·              
eLearning courses, content repositories and
exchange mechanisms,
·              
Interoperability standards for interactive
eBooks and other digital educational materials.
2.4.4.     eProcurement/eCatalogues 
The Commission aims to
make eProcurement straightforward by facilitating the emergence of an
interoperable European framework, building where possible on European
standards. Standardisation work already under way may need to be reinforced or
completed. Standards should help to make eProcurement more efficient by taking
account of the results of EU projects such as the Pan-European Public
Procurement Online (PEPPOL) project and the work undertaken by CEN.
The lack of a common definition of eCatalogue
across the EU and multiple classification schemes for products and services are
among the obstacles that enterprises – especially SMEs – face when trying to
carry out eProcurement transactions. To ensure consistent and holistic
solutions, elements of both the pre-award and post-award phases should be
further addressed by CEN, including their interfaces to eInvoicing and payment
solutions.
2.4.5.     Electronic
invoicing (eInvoicing)
The Commission aims to make online transactions
straightforward, by ensuring the completion of the Single Euro Payments Area
(SEPA) and by facilitating the emergence of an interoperable European
eInvoicing framework. The European multi-stakeholder Forum on eInvoicing is
advising on specific standardisation needs.
The Commission and CEN will assess the inputs
to ensure that appropriate European standards are available. Standards in the
area of eInvoicing need to assure a linkage with relevant standards in
eProcurement and SEPA. Moreover, European and international standardisation
bodies should pursue the fast development of complementary eBusiness messages
to improve the ability to exchange products and services effectively.
The Commission may issue a mandate covering the
definition of a semantic interoperability model and of a European eInvoice data
model.
2.4.6.     Online
dispute resolution (ODR) for eCommerce
The Regulation on consumer ODR[53] establishes a European ODR
platform. There is a need to explore and define the role of international and
European standardisation for interoperability between the ODR platform and ODR
schemes operated at national level. In particular, the Commission aims to encourage
the development of an interoperable ODR framework for data exchange, building
on United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT)
international standards and practices.
2.4.7.     The Internet of Things (IoT)
The IoT refers to the invisible connection of
billions of objects to the Internet to retrieve or send information to a
distant system, often without direct human intervention. It is not restricted
to a specific communication technology and covers several technical solutions
(RFID, TCP/IP, sensors, actuators, interfaces, etc.) related to object
identification and data capture, storage, processing, and transfer within
physical environments and between physical and virtual contexts.
An IoT standardisation mandate will explore in
a first phase (1 to 2 years) whether standards can ensure that (legal) data
protection and security requirements are met and in a second phase will develop
those standards.
2.4.8.     Electronic identification
and trust services including electronic signatures
In the context of the Directive on electronic
signatures[54], the Commission issued a mandate[55] in
early 2010 to rationalise the standards related to eSignatures and related
trust services into a coherent updated framework. The rationalised framework is
structured in six elements: eSignature creation and validation; devices related
to their creation; cryptographic suites; trust services providing support such
as issuance of certificates; value added services like registered mail or data
preservation; and the provisioning of trust service status lists. Most results
are expected in 2014 onwards.
In June 2012, the Commission proposed a
Regulation on electronic identification and trust services for electronic
transactions in the internal market[56] to
replace the eSignature Directive and expand its scope to address electronic
identification, signatures, seals, timestamps, delivery, documents or website
authentication certificates. Further standardisation mandates will be needed to
support its implementation.
2.4.9.     Card, internet and mobile payments
The lack of standards and interoperability
between different actors and solutions involved in the card, internet and
mobile payments area is a source of market fragmentation and delays the
widespread adoption of innovative pan-European payment methods.
The Commission, in cooperation with the
European Central Bank, intends to facilitate the convergence of on-going
standardisation activities in the area of card payments and spur the emergence
of pan-European standards for m-payments and Internet payments. As a first step
the Commission will invite the ESOs and other relevant bodies such as the SEPA
Council to map out business and user requirements and assess existing
standardisation gaps.
2.4.10.   Intelligent
Transport Systems (ITS)[57]
Common European standards and technical
specifications are paramount to ensure the interoperability of ITS services and
applications, accelerate their introduction and maximise their impact. New
standardisation actions will include:
·              
Co-operative systems for intelligent transport,
·              
Multimodal journey planner
·              
Open in-vehicle platform architecture,
·              
Digital Maps,
·              
Public Transport interoperability and Urban ITS
environment,
·              
Guidelines and technical specifications to
ensure a safe on-board Human-Machine Interaction,
·              
Electronic Fee Collection,
·              
International cooperation aimed at global
harmonisation of standards (Agreements with the US and Japan regarding ICT applications for road transport).
2.5.        Climate change and
Resource Efficient Europe[58]
2.5.1.     Adaptation
to climate change
The preparation of the forthcoming EU
Adaptation Strategy has identified standards as potentially important to
guarantee the resilience of infrastructure in certain sectors: transport
infrastructure, energy infrastructure and constructions/buildings. It could be
relevant to identify which standards need to be promoted and/or amended to take
better account of current and future impacts of climate change in
infrastructure investment decisions.
One way to support EU climate policy and help reach
the objectives of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is to develop
European standards for assessing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in
energy-intensive industries.
Under the current mandate for the development
of EU technical standards in the field of GHG emissions[59] for steel, cement, aluminium,
lime and ferro-alloys, reports will be issued in 2013 with results of the
verification tests. The Commission should ensure that these tests guarantee
accuracy and reproducibility of the proposed standardised measurement methods.
2.5.2.     Regulation on
ozone-depleting substances
The Regulation on ozone-depleting substances[60] restricts the use of numerous
hazardous substances including carbon tetrachloride and
trichlorotrifluoroethanes, and some existing standards will have to be checked
for conformity with the proposed use prohibitions.
2.5.3.     Air
quality
The Directive on ambient air quality and
cleaner air for Europe[61]
lays down requirements to monitor ozone precursors. The Commission expects to
send a new mandate to the ESOs for the development of harmonised measurement
standards.
2.5.4.     Waste
ESOs are expected, within the scope of the
Directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment[62] (WEEE), to develop one or more
European standards reflecting the state of the art for the treatment of waste
equipment (including recovery, recycling and preparing for re-use).
In support of the waste directive[63], the Commission will prepare
new mandates for development of methods for determination of toxic gas production
and of elements and substances in waste relevant for health hazards and
environmental hazards.
2.5.5.     Sustainable
food
As part of the roadmap to a resource-efficient Europe, the Commission will adopt a Communication on sustainable food in 2013 which may
lead to requests for standardisation activities.
3.           International Dimension
of European Standardisation
The overall objective is to strengthen the
global reach and the competitiveness of European industry by reducing technical
barriers to trade. The use of common or technically aligned standards supports
the exchange of goods and services by increasing interoperability at global
level. The objective will be pursued by:
·              
Aiming for the widest possible coherence between
international and European standards (primacy of international standardisation
with a strong European lead in many sectors) and extending/facilitating the use
of, or technical alignment with, European and/or international standards
outside of the EU,
·              
Raising awareness and promoting the advantages
of European standardisation as a coherent regional system embedded in and fully
supporting international standardisation and multilateral regulation,
·              
Contributing to the bilateral regulatory/policy
dialogues between the EU and third countries, as well as to the relevant
chapters of free trade agreements negotiations. The current priorities focus on
the US (working on the agreement on “Building Bridges” between the US and EU standards systems[64]
and in the upcoming Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership
negotiations), China (regulatory and industrial policy dialogue, strategic
partnerships), Russia (modernisation partnership), India, Japan, Korea, ASEAN and Latin America,
·              
Extending the single market in particular
through the process of the enlargement of the European Union, the European
Neighbourhood policy, and the negotiation of
Agreements on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of industrial products with
third countries adopting European product safety legislation supported by
European standards.
·              
Strategic actions in priority countries
consisting of:
·              
Seconded European standardisation experts,
currently in China and India (and perhaps in future in Brazil), ensuring a local presence of European standardisation and a flow of information on
access to key markets;
·              
Web-based standardisation information platforms,
(with China[65],
where the emphasis is on extending coverage beyond today’s sectors and perhaps
in future with the US), mapping the respective
standardisation landscapes including market access aspects directly related to
standardisation.
·              
Supporting the strengthening of African
capacities in the area of standards, in accordance with the joint EU-Africa
Action Plan, notably through a technical and policy dialogue with relevant
African standardisation and regional organisations.
4.           Conclusion
This first annual Union work programme for
European standardisation adopted pursuant to the Standardisation Regulation is
a key element in the Commission’s efforts to speed up standardisation
processes. It allows for more efficient anticipation and planning of
standardisation activities and these efforts will be further reinforced by
shorter deadlines for the acceptance of proposed mandates. Its timing allows
synchronisation with preparatory work in the ESOs and the Commission calls on the
ESOs to take this work programme into account when elaborating their own annual
work programmes later in the year.
The programme has been established in
consultation with all stakeholders and it provides a platform to gather a wide
range of inputs on future priorities for standardisation activities.
Information on the standardisation activities initiated on the basis of this
work programme will be included in the next Union work programme for European
standardisation to ensure feedback to all interested parties.
[1]               COM(2010) 2020 final
[2]               COM(2012) 582 final
[3]               Swann G.M.P., “The Economics of Standardisation: An
Update”, Report for the UK Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, 2010
[4]               Target set in the Industrial Policy Communication of
October 2012
[5]               COM(2011) 311 final
[6]               Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012
[7]               Commission Decision of 28.11.2011, OJ C 349 of
30.11.2011. First met on 26/03/2012
[8]               http://ec.europa.eu/governance/impact/planned_ia/docs/2013_entr_003_industrial_products_en.pdf
[9]               COM(2012) 433 final
[10]             COM(2013)122 final and
SWD(2013)60 final
[11]             Directive 2009/125/EC
[12]             M/495
[13]             SWD(2012) 434 final
[14]             COM(2012) 082 final
[15]             COM(2012) 636 final
[16]             COM(2013) 17 final
[17]             http://ec.europa.eu/energy/gas_electricity/smartgrids/taskforce_en.htm
[18]             M/490
[19]             Directive 2001/95/EC
[20]             COM(2013) 78 final
[21]             Regulation (EC) No 882/2004
[22]             Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009
[23]             Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011
[24]             Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003
[25]             M/501
[26]             Regulation (EC) No 552/2004
[27]             M/524
[28]             COM(2013)18
[29]             COM(2010)560
[30]             Directive 2008/96/EC
[31]             Regulation (EU) No 305/2011
[32]             Regulation (EC) No 683/2008
[33]             M/496
[34]             COM(2012) 417
[35]             Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006
[36]             Directive 2006/123/EC
[37]             M/517
[38]             Directive 2011/24/EU, Council Recommendation 2009/C
151/01
[39]             M/376
[40]             M/420
[41]             M/473
[42]             COM(2010) 352 final
[43]             COM(2012) 083 final
[44]             COM(2012) 79 final
[45]             COM(2012) 4701 final
[46]             COM(2012) 216 final
[47]             COM(2010) 245
[48]             http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/ict/files/ict-policies/2010-2013_ict_standardisation_work_programme_2nd_update_en.pdf

[49]             Directive 2011/24/EU
[50]             http://www.ehealth-strategies.eu/
[51]             M/436
[52]             COM(2007)496
[53]             Reference to be added after adoption in spring 2013
[54]             Directive 1999/93/EC 
[55]             M/460r
[56]             COM(2012)238
[57]             Directive 2010/40/EU, COM(2008) 886
[58]             COM(2011) 21
[59]             M/478
[60]             Regulation (EC) No 1005/2009
[61]             Directive 2008/50/EC
[62]             Directive 2012/19/EU
[63]             Directive 2008/98/EC
[64]             http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2011/december/tradoc_148393.pdf
[65]             http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/newsroom/cf/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=6271&lang=en