CEN – European Committee for Standardization
CENELEC – European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
CEN Identification number in the EC register: 63623305522-13
CENELEC Identification number in the EC register: 58258552517-56
CEN and CENELEC response to the public
consultation on the Europe 2020 Strategy
October 2014
Background Information
CEN (European Committee for Standardization) and CENELEC (European Committee for
Electrotechnical Standardization) are officially recognized organizations (Regulation
1025/2012) responsible for developing and defining standards at European level. These
standards set out specifications, requirements and recommendations in relation to a wide range
of products and services. European Standards support a vast number of European policies and
many harmonized standards give presumption of conformity to European regulation.
The members of CEN and CENELEC are the National Standards Bodies and the National
Electrotechnical Committees of 33 European countries including all of the EU member states plus
Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey. CEN and
CENELEC also work to promote the international harmonization of standards in the framework of
a technical cooperation agreement with ISO (International Organization for Standardization) and
IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission).
European Standards are developed through a process of collaboration among technical experts
nominated by business and industry, including SMEs, research institutes, public authorities,
consumer and other societal stakeholders. These standards are adopted and implemented
throughout all of the 33 countries covered by CEN and CENELEC.
Avenue Marnix 17 - 1000 Brussels - Belgium
Tel: +32 2 550 08 11 - Fax: +32 2 550 08 19 – [email protected] - www.cencenelec.eu
Introduction
CEN and CENELEC welcome the European Commission’s initiative to review the Europe
2020 strategy based on its current achievements and the foreseeable challenges. We
support the continued focus of the Europe 2020 strategy on smart, sustainable and
inclusive growth and the utilization of European policies and related incentives to this end.
To continue the economic recovery, we believe that the Commission should ensure that all
stakeholders are fully engaged in this initiative and that best use is made of all available
policy and supporting instruments, including voluntary standards.
Standardization in Europe is unique in that it is a regional system based on the adoption of
a single standard for the whole market and the withdrawal of any conflicting national
standards. This model has supported, and will continue to support, the successful
implementation of public policies. It has enabled the full deployment of the European
Single Market. European standardization also helps to improve the global competitiveness
and productivity of European industry, contributing significantly to innovation potential
and growth creation.
This paper outlines in its first section the areas that CEN and CENELEC believe should
remain a key focus for the Europe 2020 strategy and where standardization has a great
potential to help deliver the objectives. This is then followed by a second section that
details where and how standards support smart, inclusive and sustainable growth (see
below, chapter on growth and jobs).
1. Key areas for the revised Europe 2020 strategy
(responding to
Consultation question 1 – content and implementation, 1st bullet and question 2 – tools 1st bullet)
Growth through a strong Single Market
The European Single Market is a successful example of harmonization that has enabled
economic success, with support for jobs and inward investment in a highly competitive
global economy. The unique model of European standardization is a key tool for the
implementation of the Europe 2020 strategy through the maintenance and further
development of the Single Market. CEN and CENELEC are committed to support the Single
Market as long as it serves the interest of European business and industry.
Growth in Europe will come from the completion of the Single Market and will be
supported by the full integration of voluntary standards. Business performance
improvement in the Single Market can be stimulated by standards for products, for
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processes and for people.
The European Single Market is based upon the single standard model across all 33
Members of CEN and CENELEC. The development of European Standards requires every
Member of CEN and CENELEC to cease any national standardization development that may
duplicate or compete with the European work and to withdraw any national standard that
is in conflict with the published document. The inclusiveness of the European
standardization system that successfully integrates and represents the needs of all
stakeholders – in line with the Regulation 1025/2012 on European Standardization –
ensures the resulting standard is widely accepted by the market. Those elements have
built a strong standardization system in Europe that has boosted intra-regional trade and
helped make the Single Market an economic reality.
Europe has a successful history of public-private partnership where regulators rely on the
private sector to develop voluntary technical specifications that will provide a presumption
of conformity with regulatory requirements. This mechanism is known as the “New
Approach” to technical harmonization, which has been updated through the New
Legislative Framework. This system has enabled European legislation to be based on state
of the art solutions, to be able to evolve simultaneously with technological progress and to
remain innovation-friendly.
The integrity of the process and its governance are critical elements of European
standardization for the Single Market and this model of standardization must be
maintained to enable the future development of Europe. The European Commission
therefore should continue to support the New Approach/New Legislative Framework and
the reference to standards to support European legislation and policies where a marketbased instrument provides an appropriate solution.
Better, smarter regulation to strengthen the Single Market
CEN and CENELEC welcome the importance given to better regulation in the
announcement of the new Commission portfolios. Through the New Approach/New
Legislative Framework and the support given to other areas of European policy, European
Standards are an important tool for better regulation. They can reduce the need for
detailed and prescriptive legislative texts, minimize burdens on industry and ensure broad
market acceptance through a pan-European consensus.
CEN and CENELEC support the Conclusions of the Competitiveness Council of 25th
September 2014 ‘Mainstreaming of Industrial Competitiveness’ that call upon the
Commission “to focus its work programme from 2015 onwards on initiatives that enhance
competitiveness and innovation and do not create disproportionate regulatory burdens for
European businesses.”
CEN and CENELEC would be pleased to work with the new Commission to identify
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opportunities for the use of voluntary standards in the smart/better regulation context.
More growth with an effective Single Market for Services
The European Commission has a focus on completing the Single Market for services.
Services are crucial to the European Internal Market, accounting for over 70% of
economic activity in the European Union, and a similar (and rising) proportion of overall
employment 1. Given the predominance of SMEs in service operations, the inclusiveness of
the European standardization system, which provides many tools 2 to help SMEs contribute
to standardization work and to facilitate their use of standards, has great potential to
contribute to the creation of jobs in this sector.
In order to support the internationalization of services and European companies, it is
important to ensure the coherence between European and international standards. CEN
and CENELEC have successfully done so with several European Standards on services that
have been proposed as candidate international standards, for example in the areas of
management consultancy, customer contact centres and facilities management.
The Europe 2020 strategy should address the Single Market for services and the
‘servitization’ of manufacturing. The report of the High Level Group on Business Services
(HLGBS) should be considered in the context of the completion of the Single Market for
services. Standards can play a role as policy instruments here, as they can influence a
business or industry sector, acting as a driver in terms of delivering better products, more
efficient processes and higher business potential. This was contained in the report to the
HLGBS on standards and related instruments, delivered by an ad hoc working group led
by CEN and CENELEC.
Stimulate economic growth
European policies should seek to stimulate growth by connecting the workforce and
service providers to the economy, wherever they are situated across the Union. Policies in
this area will be delivered partly through standards. Identical standards across Europe will
enable access to the market, to offer labour, skills and services. Standards will help
employers to connect with service providers through digital networks and will permit
governments to procure goods and services electronically. (See also standards supporting
smart growth below.)
1
Source: European Commission website, Single Market for Services
http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/top_layer/services/index_en.htm
2
For CEN and CENELEC SME tools see http://www.cencenelec.eu/sme/Pages/default.aspx;
also see below: standards support smart growth
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Facilitate innovation for a more competitive Europe
Innovative activity has been the single, most important component of long-term economic
growth 3 according to the OECD. The European Commission states in its Communication4
on Research and innovation as sources of renewed growth that new growth opportunities
come from providing new products and services derived from technological breakthroughs,
new processes and business models, non-technological innovation and innovation in the
services sector, combined with and driven by creativity, flair and talent, or, in other
words, from innovation in its broadest sense. To maximize these growth opportunities, we
need to see a strong economic policy focus and policies tackling societal challenges such
as the ageing population, energy security, climate change (including disaster risk
management) and social inclusion. Each of these areas would benefit from innovative
solutions and are all being addressed by European standardization.
Standards can play a key role in channelling innovation to the market. Indeed, at a time
when Europe needs to be more innovative in order to remain competitive in global
markets, standardization can be a bridge between research, innovation and the market.
This will in turn bring significant economic benefits and support the Innovation Union
flagship. According to the World Bank, one of the most important economic benefits of
standards is increased productivity and innovative efficiency.
Standards play a particularly useful role in disseminating knowledge: facilitating the
introduction of innovative products by providing interoperability between new and existing
products, services and processes. In this way standards also facilitate international trade,
ensuring compatibility and interoperability in different markets 5.
Growth opportunities in globalization
Growth in Europe will also come through internationalization and greater global market
access for European economic actors, including SMEs. Standards can support their
competitiveness and foster market access with major trading partners for Europe. The
standards dimension in the technical barriers to trade chapter of European trade
negotiations and regulatory dialogues is growing in importance. In this respect, it is crucial
to understand the contribution of standards to meeting trade objectives and the
underlying risks to the Single Market. Therefore, a closer and stronger public-private
partnership between regulators and standardizers in those trade discussions is crucial to
3
OECD report 2004, INNOVATION AND ECONOMIC GROWTH by Nathan Rosenberg Professor
of Economics (Emeritus), Stanford University
4
COM(2014) 339 final, 2014-06-10
5
Source: European Commission Guidebook Series - How to support SME Policy from Structural
Funds. Using standards to support growth, competitiveness and innovation.
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reach a balanced and successful outcome.
The international dimension of European Standards 6 and the European leadership in
international standardization contribute significantly to strengthening European global
competitiveness. Furthermore, CEN and CENELEC have a reliable structure of partnerships
in place with major trading countries and regions, which enable technical dialogues and
joint standardization work. This achieves greater technical alignment with neighbours and
other stakeholders, which in turn supports regulatory alignment.
Our successful European model of harmonization and the use of standards in support of
public policies, as outlined above, should be further coordinated and promoted abroad and
widely advocated in international trade negotiations.
2. Standards supporting growth in Europe 2020
Consultation question 1 – content and implementation, 4
th
(responding to
bullet)
European Standards already support the three key areas of the Europe 2020 strategy by
contributing among others, to the flagship initiatives on digital agenda for Europe,
innovation, industrial policy and resource efficiency. Specific examples are set out in this
section:
Standards support smart growth
Standards are key elements for the delivery of ICT policies, such as e-government and
e-health. Standards are an important source of information and know-how and play a key
role in adding value to existing information by linking technical knowledge with legal,
commercial and economic aspects and by providing practical guidance.
There are a large number of ‘smart’ standards initiatives: smart meters, smart grids,
smart water, smart objects, smart cities, smart factories/industry 4.0, e-mobility, etc. This
rapid development comes with opportunities and risks such as the respect of personal
data and lack of international regulation. Standards provide a basis for the integration of
technologies into complex, innovative systems and solutions, and assist in ensuring
interoperability. Numerous standards initiatives are aiding this smart growth, addressing
and framing the associated risks and opportunities:
•
CEN-CENELEC-ETSI Coordination Group ‘Smart and Sustainable Cities and
Communities (SSCC-CC)” provides a standardization forum in this area. SSCC-CC
is involved in the activities of the Smart Cities and Communities European
Innovation Partnership (EIP), a stakeholder-driven initiative, run by the European
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31% of the CEN publications are identical to ISO publications (this is an average and it varies
greatly from one sector to another) and 72% of CENELEC publications are identical to IEC
publications.
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Commission, that aims to “catalyse progress towards wide-scale deployment of
innovative Smart Cities solutions at the intersection of energy, transport and ICT”.
•
CEN-CENELEC-ETSI Smart Grid Coordination Group has produced five reports
responding to aspects falling under the European Commission Mandate M/490 on
Smart Grids, on Reference Architecture, Set of Consistent Standards, and
Sustainable Standardization Processes. Standards for information security and data
privacy encompassing harmonized high-level requirements are currently being
considered.
•
Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) have become the focus of a number of
policy and legislative initiatives in Europe: directives and Communications covering
initiatives such as Road User Charging (RUC) and Electronic Fee Collection (EFC). In
order for European action to be delivered effectively, there is a need for
interoperability that can best be provided through standards. A dedicated CEN
Technical Committee works on those various aspects under ITS.
•
Interoperability of health information systems between the actors and devices who
handle and process health data is key to the safety and integrity of patient and their
health data. CEN standardization work in the field of e-health explores the potential
of making use of ICT for improving both the health of European citizens as well as
efficiency of health care, through a broad work programme with issues ranging from
Electronic Health Records (EHR) architecture and Health Informatics Service
Architecture to Detailed Clinical Modelling (DCM). In line with the goals set in the
“Digital Agenda for Europe” (responding to Consultation question 1 – Tools, 4th bullet), ehealth European Standards enable the healthcare sector to maintain cost efficiency.
At the same time, they provide European citizens with high quality and cheaper
services for health. Moreover, as a follow-up of the project on cross-border eHealth Services (epSOS), in particular its part on ePrescriptions, a number of
standardization projects relating to this field have been initiated, for example
prEN ISO 17523 ‘Requirements for electronic prescriptions’. In order to increase the
global relevance of those solutions, the work is delivered in close coordination with
ISO.
European Standards also play an important role as enablers of innovation (responding to
Consultation question 1 – Tools, 4th bullet – Innovation Union). CEN, CENELEC and their members
participate in different ways in research projects, encouraging innovations to be
commercialized through standards where appropriate:
•
CEN-CENELEC Working Group on Standardization, Innovation and Research
(STAIR) coordinates this work from a standards perspective. By working closely
with their members, CEN and CENELEC have expanded the network of national
research, development and innovation correspondents to include 31 national
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contact points covering 26 countries (Bridgit project)
•
CEN and CENELEC are working on e-Education encompassing ICT skills and eLearning. An interactive online educational tool is being developed and will enable
entrepreneurs and people who work for SMEs to learn about standards and
standardization in a way that corresponds with their own needs. Through 6 modules
the learner will become more aware of how standards can help their business, why
they should use standards and how they can contribute to the standards
development process. This tool will be available in 23 languages by the end of
2014.
•
Innovation is widely recognised as a means for companies to become more
competitive and successful. However, many organisations do not understand how
they should encourage and manage innovation. The CEN Technical Committee
‘Innovation Management’ (CEN/TC 389), has been working on the development
of documents that explain how to manage innovation in a systematic way, with a
clear focus on the needs of businesses and especially SMEs. A Technical
Specification 'Innovation management – Part 1: Innovation management system'
(CEN/TS 16555-1:2013) was published in 2013 as first part in a series of
documents with the aim of helping organisations increase their innovation capability
so that they can generate more value for their stakeholders. Further parts on
relevant Innovation Management aspects are expected to be published in early
January 2015 on Strategic intelligence management; Innovation thinking,
Intellectual property management, Collaboration management, and Creativity
management.
Bearing in mind the significant innovative potential of SMEs, CEN and CENELEC have also
developed tools to facilitate their access to the standardization system and their
understanding of the values and benefits of standards. These include the Online Toolbox
of Solutions for SMEs that has been implemented by 28 national standardization bodies
and the SME Standardization Toolkit which gives information about how to facilitate
SMEs’ involvement in standardization with 215 concrete examples of good practices, both
national and European.
Standards support inclusive growth
The Commission Communication ‘Taking stock of the Europe 2020 strategy’ (COM(2014)
130/final) discusses the effects of the ageing population. Standards are important for
helping to open markets for innovative products that meet the needs of an older
population, such as in relation to accessibility and assisted living. This relates to the ‘longterm trends affecting growth’ in the 2014 Communication.
To support the silver economy, CEN and CENELEC have a number of standardization
activities in cooperation with relevant stakeholders (businesses, public authorities, service
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providers, as well as organizations that represent the needs and wishes of older citizens
and consumers) that respond to several Commission mandates. CEN and CENELEC are
integrating the principle of accessibility in all relevant standardization activities for the
design/development of products and services.
Standardization activities cover topics such as Accessibility in the Built Environment,
eAccessibility and Design for All. The European Standardization Organizations have
recently published a standard on Accessibility requirements suitable for public
procurement of ICT products and services in Europe. Work is ongoing in the field of
accessibility to railways rolling stock and design of rolling stock, in order to take
into account the needs of passengers with reduced mobility.
Standards also support the implementation of the European Qualifications Framework for
ICT field, with the publication of a Workshop (CWA 16234-1:2014) which sets the
European e-Competence framework using a common language for competences,
skills and capability levels that can be understood across Europe (responding to
Consultation question 1 – Tools, 4th bullet).
The openness of the European standardization system is a means to include stakeholders
in the delivery of the EU 2020 strategy (responding to Consultation question 1 – content and
implementation, 4th bullet and question 2 – content and implementation, 5th bullet). Policies delivered
using a standards element will benefit from the open and transparent processes and panEuropean consensus that European standardization delivers.
Standards support sustainable growth
CEN and CENELEC are identifying ways in which European Standards can contribute to a
more efficient use of energy and other resources, reduce waste and minimize negative
impacts on the environment. Standards are being developed across the environment,
energy, and climate areas. Standardization directly supports the delivery of major
European policies, providing a self- or co-regulatory solution.
The EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change (COM(2013) 216 final) has identified
technical standards as an effective instrument for improving climate resilience. CEN and
CENELEC are therefore working in close co-operation with the European Commission to
help build and maintain a more climate resilient infrastructure throughout the EU in three
priority sectors: transport, energy and the construction sector (e.g. sustainability
assessment of buildings and energy performance of buildings).
Standards are also identified as one of the elements of the EU 2020 Strategy flagship
initiative ‘An industrial policy for the globalization era’ (responding to Consultation question
1 – Tools, 4th bullet) focusing enabling production processes and products to meet the
requirements of a low carbon economy. One main goal is to encourage performance
improvements in industrial installations, e.g. by increasing efficiency and reducing
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emissions. European Standards will support policies and measures in response to several
European Commission mandates in this field.
CEN and CENELEC are currently identifying ways to support the EU flagship 'Roadmap to
a Resource Efficient Europe' (COM(2011) 571) (responding to Consultation question 1 – Tools,
4th bullet). CENELEC is developing European Standards for the treatment (including
recovery, recycling and preparing for re-use) of waste electrical and electronic
equipment. European standards are also being developed to support the ecological and
chemical status monitoring requirements of the Water Framework Directive
2000/60/EC under Commission mandate M/424.
Since 2009, CEN and CENELEC have published a series of standards that contribute to
better management of energy and energy efficiency. Standards on energy audits
are also being developed. Since 2006, the CEN/CENELEC Sector Forum Energy
Management has encouraged the exchange of information and experiences between
experts involved in energy management, energy efficiency and renewables, has
investigated standardization needs related to EU energy legislation and policy targets and
has analysed strategic development and issues in the marketplace.
Finally, CEN also supports the development of standards in relation to bio-fuels, which
are increasingly playing an important role as sources of energy and is developing
European Standards and other deliverables covering horizontal aspects of bio-based
products, including specific types of bio-based products (bio-based lubricants, solvents,
surfactants and bio-polymers).
Conclusion
European Standards provide an effective tool for smart and better regulation in European
policies and legislation and have supported the development of the European Single
Market. CEN and CENELEC’s strategy is fully in line with the EU 2020 objectives, and can
help the EU achieve well-functioning markets, stimulating growth and innovation.
One crucial element is that of a public-private partnership between the European
institutions on one side and industry and all other private stakeholders, convened by the
standardization organizations, on the other. CEN and CENELEC bring together, through an
independently-governed, transparent process, the experts who deliver standards with
pan-European consensus and broad market acceptance. This provides the necessary
credibility and legitimacy to support European policies.
The second essential element is the use of standards for smart and better regulation.
European Standards can support co-regulatory models that reduce the need for legislative
action, as with the New Approach/New Legislative Framework.
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The third element is the global dimension of European Standards, where CEN and
CENELEC have long-standing successful partnerships with the international standards
organizations ISO and IEC. European Standards and the partnerships with ISO and IEC
are key ingredients for the support of international trade.
These three elements demonstrate the importance to the economy and to future growth in
Europe that can be delivered in partnership with the European standardization system.
This will be even more beneficial for some European countries that are faced with high
unemployment rates and negative or zero development rates, to increase the
competitiveness of their economy and resume their economic development.
CEN and CENELEC therefore call on the European Commission to reflect the importance of
European Standards in the revised Europe 2020 strategy. The European Commission
should continue to give its full support to the public-private partnership in the New
Approach/New Legislative Framework. In making a greater commitment to better and
smart regulation, the European Commission should consider greater use of non-legislative
actions, such as co- and self-regulation. The Commission should also make full use of the
potential of standards to support international cooperation and regulatory dialogues and
recognize fully the potential of European Standards as a tool for smart regulation.
CEN and CENELEC would be pleased to discuss with the Commission the specific role that
European Standards can play to support EU policies and legislation in any of the areas
covered in this response.
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