European standardisation and SMEs Launch of the SBS Lift Forum on standardisation 13/12/2017 European standardisation and SMEs Annalisa Tessarolo Legal Officer DG GROW

Importance of standardisation in major EU policies Single Market Strategy Better Regulation Package Digital Single Market Renewed Industrial Policy Strategy

SMEs' importance in Europe - Backbone of Europe's economy - 99% of all businesses in the EU - In the past five years, SMEs have created around 85% of new jobs and provided 2/3 of the total private sector employment in the EU - Key for economic growth, innovation, job creation and social integration in the EU

SMEs should be involved in standardisation! Many benefits Standards can help: ● reduce costs ● improve innovative capacity ● enhance competitiveness ► The Commission supports SMEs‘ participation in the standardisation process and aims to raise awareness about their involvement.

What does the EC have to do with standardisation? Coordinates the standardisation policy and cooperates with the different stakeholders Promotes the use of European standards to support EU legislation and policies for the sake of competitiveness and safety Formulates the standardisation requests Prepares the Annual Union Work Programme for standardisation Funds certain actors of the system, including the organisation representing SMEs in European standardisation

N.B. Who pays for standardisation? European standardisation is mainly financed by industry (93 - 95%) Followed by National goverments (3 – 5%) EC/EFTA (2%)

Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012 (1) Better communication & transparency for the EC: Annual Union Work Programme for European standardisation (planning future mandates and strategic priorities, Art. 8) Better inclusiveness of standardisation processes: Stakeholder participation in ESOs (Art. 5) SME access for NSBs (Art. 6) Participation of public authorities for Member States (Art. 7)

Union financing of European standardisation Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012 (2) Union financing of European standardisation Financing ESOs (and NSBs for joint actions) and other bodies co-operating with them Financing European stakeholder organisations SBS receives funding for: the functioning of the organisation participation in technical work through experts promotion dissemination and awareness-raising activities

Beyond the Standardisation Regulation: Joint Initiative on Standardisation ● Non-legislative initiative to improve governance, interaction and communication to improve the ESS ● Vision supporting the Juncker priorities + 15 actions to be delivered by 2019 ● Driven by stakeholders - EC coordinating and bringing together all participants ● More than 120 signatures/endorsements ● SBS signed and is the lead for action 15 " Improve the representation of the interests of SMEs in Europe in international standardisation processes"

DO NOT FORGET TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE: http://ec.europa.eu/growth/single-market/european-standards/index_en.htm Thank you for your attention! Any questions? annalisa.tessarolo@ec.europa.eu