1. Standardization in the European context
Ingrid Soetaert
Project Manager – Strategy & Governance
SBS Twinning Seminar (Sofia /26)

2. Content Why SMEs need standards European Standardization
European, international standardization
Standards development process
Link to Legislation
Inclusiveness of the European Standardization System, Participation of social stakeholders

3. SMEs are everywhere Manufactures goods Delivers services
Gives legal advice
Tests for safety
Protects the environment
Offers consultancy
...

4. Standards are everywhere

5. Why do SMEs need standards?

6. Standards helps business to:
ensure the quality and safety of products and/or services
achieve compatibility between products and/or components
access markets and sell to customers in other countries
satisfy customers’ expectations and requirements
reduce costs, eliminate waste and improve efficiency
comply with relevant legislation including EU regulations
gain knowledge about new technologies and innovations

7. Support for SMEs to benefit fully from standardization
To understand
role of standards
benefits of standards
standards development process
Identify relevant standards
Implement those standards
Use standards for business development
Shape the content of future standards

8. European and International Standardization

9. 3 ESOs (i.e. recognized by EU)
CEN – European Committee for Standardization CENELEC – European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization ETSI – European Telecommunications Standards Institute

10. Who we are National standards bodies National committees
Vienna, 1991
(>30%)
Dresden, 1996
(>75%)
National standards bodies
Industry, federations, academia…
National committees

11. Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Austria
Belgium
Cyprus
Estonia
Finland
Germany
FYROM
Greece
France
Romania
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Malta
Serbia
Netherlands
Slovenia
Sweden
Turkey
United Kingdom
Switzerland
Slovakia
Spain

12. Fundamentals – CEN and CENELEC standards are…
Based on the national delegation principle
Representing a consensus among all interested parties, including industry & SMEs and societal stakeholders
Voluntary
Developed by independent organizations clearly distinct from authorities

13. European Internal Market
SINGLE TEXT EN
European
Standard
One
Standard

14. CEN and CENELEC European Standardization
34 identical national standards
All conflicting standards removed
500 million people

15. CEN & CENELEC Standardization Sectors and Topics
Bio-based products
Chemicals
Construction
Food
Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning
Materials
Nanotechnologies
Pressure equipment
Services
Textiles
CEN & CENELEC
Air and Space
Consumer products
Electric Vehicles
Energy and utilities
Health and safety
Healthcare
ICT
Machinery safety
Measurement
Medical equipment
Railways
Security and Defence
Smart Grids / Smart Meters
Transport and Packaging
CENELEC
Electrical engineering
Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC)
Fibre-optic communications
Fuel Cells
Household Electrical Appliances
Solar (photovoltaic) electricity systems
Cross-sectoral issues
Accessibility | Environmental Protection | Energy-efficiency (Eco-Design)

16. European Standards by sector
The main sectors (from left to right)
Transport
ICT
Mechanical engineering
Building and civil engineering
Materials
Only few standards on Services

17. CEN & ISO: Vienna Agreement CENELEC & IEC: Frankfurt Agreement
basic principles
the primacy of international standards
participants at the process adhere to values both CEN and ISO are committed to
that there might be particular needs for standards in EU for which a need has not been recognised at the international level or which are urgently needed
- 17

18. CEN – ISO: Vienna Agreement
30% of the CEN standards portfolio is identical to ISO

19. CENELEC-IEC: Frankfurt Agreement
68% of the CENELEC standards portfolio is identical to IEC 6% is based on IEC

20. Standards development process

21. System – main interactions
Affiliates EC
Europe
CEN - CENELEC
EFTA
Partners
SBS
NSB
NSB
NSB
NSB
NSB
NSB
NSB
National
NSB
NSB
NSB
Trades Unions
Professional institutions
Standards Users
Consumer Bodies
Government
Departments
Research
Organizations
Certification
Bodies
Educational
Bodies
Enforcement
Bodies

22. Technical Bodies and Working Groups
Trade Unions
ETUC
National Members send delegates that represent national point of view of all involved parties
Observers send representatives that participate to the debate
(Partner Organization, Liaison Organization, Associated body, European Commission, EFTA)
Technical body
Management decisions
Working Group
Members send experts
Observers send experts
Technical standardization work

23. Standards development process Step by step
Proposal - evaluation and decision
Drafting and consensus building
Public enquiry – generation of comments
Consideration & resolution of comments
Approval of the standard
Publication 1 2 3 4 5 6

24. Link to legislation

25. 1. Standardization in Europe
Regulation 1025/2012 on European Standardization
Sets legal framework for standardization in Europe
Confirms importance of development of voluntary European Standards for services
Recognises 3 European Standards Organizations (ESO) – CEN, CENELEC and ETSI
This Regulation establishes rules with regard to the cooperation between European standardization organizations, national standardization bodies, Member States and the Commission, the establishment of European standards and European standardization deliverables for products and for services in support of Union legislation and policies, the identification of ICT technical specifications eligible for referencing in public procurement, the financing of European standardization and stakeholder participation in European standardization.
The Regulation 1025/2012 is an important step towards the recognition of European standardization, and CEN and CENELEC. Moreover, it confirms the market driven and voluntary nature of standards and the national delegation principle, and the role of CEN and CENELEC members in the process.

26. Supporting European legislation

27. Inclusiveness of the European Standardization System, Participation of social stakeholders

28. Partnership Agreement CEN and SBS
Cooperation to strengthen EU standardization system and facilitate adoption of European Standards
SBS observership at level of governing bodies
SBS participation at Technical Committee (TC) and Working Group (WG) level
CEN and CENELEC are membership based organizations. Only NSB/NCs are members and have voting rights. Others are observers.
ETUC:
CEN/TC 278 Intelligent transport systems
CEN/TC 319 Maintenance
CEN/TC 348 Facility Management
CEN/TC 411 Bio-based products
CEN/TC 447 Horizontal standards for the provision of services
CEN/TC 449 Quality of care for elderly people in ordinary or residential care facilities
CEN/TC 450 Minimum requirements of patient involvement in person-centred care
CEN-CA SAGS CA Strategic Advisory Group on Services CEN-CLC SSG Societal Stakeholders Group
CEN-CLC SSG TF 1 Toolbox Societal Stakeholders Group - Task Force 1: Toolbox
CEN-CLC SSG TF 2 'eLearning' Societal Stakeholders Group - Task Force 2: eLearning

29. Practical implications
Participation in TC meetings and access to documents: liaise with SBS secretariat who will inform CEN CENELEC
SBS is always welcome in TCs/SCs, but we need to be informed (list of TCs/SCs agreed upon beforehand)
TC/WG meetings: clearly state who you represent, also in the attendance sheet
SBS representatives can comment on drafts, up to and including vote, but uploading is the right of ETUC staff
Monitor the attendance: clearly indicate in the attendance sheet and in minutes or reports who represented the Annex III, Partner or Liaison organizations. It is also very useful that contributions, in particular from Annex III organizations are minuted as well as the follow up to these contributions.

30. Tools to support SMEs

31. Communication channels
CEN-CENELEC SME-WG: policy group
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre
Operational aspects
Concerns
Trainings
SBS
EEN participates in the SME-WG

32. 16 tools for SMEs Online SME Toolbox of solutions online SMEST Toolkit
Scopes of European Standards
Normative references
CEN-CENELEC Guide 17
SME testimonials
national & European SME helpdesks
search tools
sector related info
LinkedIn group SMEs and standards
SME Newsletters
brochures and leaflets
information on latest publications
eLearning tool for SMEs
eCommenting project
Alert system for SMEs

33. CEN-CENELEC Guide 17
“Guidance for writing standards taking into account micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) needs”
To help CEN and CENELEC technical bodies to take into account the needs of SMEs when developing European Standards
Aimed a standards writers
Developed with SME representatives
Freely available in 27 languages
Taken over by ISO as ISO Guide in April 2013
Approved by ISO and IEC to become ISO-IEC Guide (publication end Feb. 2016)

34. eLearning tool for SMEs
developed in close cooperation with SBS
Aimed at
entrepreneurs
people who work for SMEs
Purpose:
Learn about standards and standardization
Get involved in standardization
Available in 23 languages (

35. And what about Trade Associations?

36. What associations should do ?
Establish good contacts and communication with the Standard Institutes
Create forums for regular dialogue with the Standards Institute
Ensure that the needs and wishes of SMEs are taken into account in standardisation
Provide advice and expertise and coordinate the collection and sharing of information  appoint a technical adviser
Help making standards available in the language of the country
Organise trainings
Produce practical guides about how to use or implement standards
Develop online tools that make information about standards accessible
Help with the creation of bundles of standards appropriate for different professions

37. Brochure
Available in 26 languages

38. Useful links
Online SME Toolbox of Solutions + national toolboxes (CEN CENELEC)
Dedicated SME web pages
SME helpdesks CEN CENELEC & Network of 43 national SME helpdesks
SME monthly newsletter (subscribe)
Social networking: LinkedIn ‘SMEs and Standards’
CEN-CENELEC Guide 17 for writing standards taking into account SME needs (27 languages)
Brochures and leaflets
Standards and your business
Including SMEs in standardisation (26 languages)
SMEs and Standards: Guide to the European Standardization System
Standardization for SMEs: Building on the Benefits
Ingrid Soetaert
SBS Experts meeting

39. Thank you for your attention! Questions?