Industry groups call for new deal in EU Single Market

A group of 21 European industry associations has made a joint statement calling for a new deal for the European Single Market. The document's central message is that harmonised standards should continue to support competitiveness in European industry and remain relevant for companies operating within the EU Single Market.

The joint statement feeds into discussions around the upcoming European Commission's (EC) Industrial Strategy promised by new Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Among the 21 signatories was the Committee for European Construction Equipment (CECE), Digital Europe, which aims to give a voice to digitally transforming industries, and the European machine tools association, CECIMO.

While the document is largely supportive of harmonised standards, the associations voiced disagreement with the EC's interpretation of a Regulation on European Standardisation. The associations are arguing that the current interpretation, which allows the EC to claim further responsibilities based entirely on the idea that harmonisation is an extension of the law, increases bureaucratic hurdles for businesses and delays access for innovative technologies to the Single Market.

The statement said: "Companies face serious issues with the current EU governance for harmonised standards. Industry strongly disagrees with the Commission’s interpretation of Regulation 1025/2012. In its Communication on European standardisation (22 November 2018), the Commission has claimed additional responsibilities based on the interpretation that standards are an extension of the law, which is neither workable nor attractive for standards users and developers. This situation now increases the administrative burden and delays access for innovative technologies to the Single Market."

"The use of harmonised standards can support a wide range of different policy goals. Maintaining their attractiveness and relevance for companies within the Single Market is strategically important. Without the involvement of companies, there is no future for relevant European standardisation. Therefore, industry proposes a “new deal” for standardisation to strengthen the smooth operation of the Single Market as part of a new industrial strategy for Europe."

Three recommendations were included in the document. Firstly, a call for an independent assessment of the interpretation of Regulation 1025/2012 on European standardisation, as well as the impact it has on users and developers.

The document also called for a restoration of "efficient mechanisms for the development, assessment and use of relevant, state-of-the-art harmonised standards that respond to market needs and support the application of EU law".

Finally, there was a call for the further involvement of industry and other economic groups in any discussion on standardisation "from inception to implementation".

Read the full text of the joint statement.

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