Standardization in the European context Ingrid Soetaert Project Manager – Strategy & Governance SBS Twinning Seminar (Sofia 2018-01-25/26)

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

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

Standards are everywhere

Why do SMEs need standards?

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

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

European and International Standardization

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

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

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

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

European Internal Market SINGLE TEXT EN European Standard One Standard

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

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)

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

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

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

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

Standards development process

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

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

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

Link to legislation

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.

Supporting European legislation

Inclusiveness of the European Standardization System, Participation of social stakeholders

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

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.

Tools to support SMEs

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

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

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)

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 (www.cencenelec.eu/sme/elearning)

And what about Trade Associations?

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

Brochure Available in 26 languages

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 2017-02-15

Thank you for your attention! Questions? www.cencenelec.eu/sme www.sbs-sme.eu