European Committee for Standardization European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization. Cen Cenelec. Annual report

Transcription

1 European Committee for Standardization European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization Cen Cenelec Annual report 2011

2 Railways Medical equipment ICT Optical fibres Household appliances Smart metering electrical engineering Household appliances Accessibility Transport Smart metering Medical equipment Construction Air & space Energy & utilities Railways Smart Grids Packaging Accessibility Services Pressure equipment Services Food Environment Materials Biotechnology Fuel cells Electromagnetic Compatibility Food Services electrical engineering Transport Food Fuel cells Machinery safety Biotechnology Consumers Electric vehicles Energy & utilities SmartHouse Healthcare Household appliances Accessibility Chemistry Photovoltaic Nanotechnology Construction Consumers

3 Table of contents Director General s letter... 2 The legal framework for European standardization... 5 Supporting European industry... 9 Responding to key challenges Linking standardization with research and innovation European Standards on the world stage Raising awareness and visibility Towards a more efficient and effective European Standardization System

4 Director General s letter 2 European Standards are vital to reap the benefits of an enlarged single market as well as to create a more stable environment for economic activity. More open trade is a key condition for market integration, and standards demonstrate a commitment to open markets. During 2011, CEN and CENELEC have worked closely with TSE, the Turkish Standards Institute, which became a full member of both organisations at the start of This cooperation will create a common market with Turkey ensuring competition based on European Standards and integrating health, consumer and environmental protection requirements. Meanwhile, the Moroccan Industrial Standardization Service (SNIMA) became an Affiliate of CENELEC, and the Mongolian Agency for Standardization and Metrology (MASM) was welcomed as a Partner Standardization Body of CEN. In these most challenging times, European standardization has been identified and granted particular recognition as a strategic tool to strengthen the competitiveness of European industry, to provide it with a level playing field and to promote its leadership in the global market. These benefits are especially valuable to small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs), which have a vital role to play in building the economic recovery and generating jobs. The Standardization Package published by the European Commission in June 2011 provides evidence of this dimension and the prominent role given to standardization by policy makers and regulators. Being aware of this huge responsibility and of the high expectations that are being placed on the European Standardization System, we are strengthening our efforts, together with our network of national members, to get more SMEs involved in standardization activities, to better address their needs and to demonstrate the added value of their participation. This is a strategic priority for CEN and CENELEC that is being pursued through our SMEST2 project under the leadership of NEN (the National Standards Body of the Netherlands), the SME Helpdesk, the SME Newsletter, and the preparation of two major projects on e-learning and e-commenting, which we hope will make it easier for SMEs and other interested parties to get involved in European standardization processes. Taking inspiration from our ongoing efforts to support the participation of SMEs, CEN and CENELEC have also established a joint Working Group on Societal Stakeholders together with our European partner organisations representing consumer interests (ANEC), environmental organisations (ECOS) and employees (ETUI). This group is guided by CEN Vice-President Policy and is working in close cooperation with the Technical Boards of CEN and CENELEC to define the concept of effective participation in technical work, and to develop practical recommendations for how standards organisations can facilitate the involvement of societal stakeholders. Another key challenge for CEN and CENELEC is to reinforce the role of standardization in providing a bridge between research, innovation and the market. This is directly relevant to the Innovation Union initiative that is being developed by the European Union in the framework of the Europe 2020 strategy, which has the goal of promoting smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. We have been especially active in developing our cooperation with the European institutions and other relevant stakeholders, in order to make sure that the role of standardization is not only recognised but also supported and strengthened within the next EU programme for research and innovation Horizon 2020 which is due to start in We continue to pay close attention to our core business developing and publishing European Standards and the need to continuously improve our processes so that our standards are market-relevant and timely to market needs. Across CEN and CENELEC a total of 1578 technical documents were published in 2011, including: 1411 European Standards, 69 Workshop Agreements, 56 Technical Specifications, 36 Technical Reports and 6 Guides. As a result of introducing more efficient procedures in recent years, more than two-thirds (71%) of all our documents are finalised and published within a total development time of 2.5 years.

5 3 Enhanced technical cooperation between the three European Standards Organisations (ESOs) has become essential for the success of the European system. Taking into account the increasing need for crosssectoral cooperation, the limited resources available for standardization work, as well as competition from standardization bodies in other parts of the world, we must make sure that we are able to provide European industry with the most attractive and effective solution to their standardization needs. CEN, CENELEC and ETSI are cooperating on standards for electric vehicles (e-mobility), smart grids, cyber security and the integration of accessibility requirements. Meanwhile, our joint External Relations Committee enables us to coordinate and strengthen our efforts to promote the European Standardization System around the world. We continue to expand the horizons of European standardization by addressing new sectors and welcoming new stakeholders, helping them to understand the benefits of our system and how they can work with us to develop smart solutions that will meet their needs. Particular attention has been paid to the concepts of environmental performance, resource-efficiency and ecodesign. We have been active across an ever-wider range of sectors such as: space, maritime security, electrical installation of ships, sustainable cocoa, and services with the completion of a CEN study on European service standards and their impact on service providers and users. The close collaboration between CEN and CENELEC has been consolidated during 2011, following the integration of our staff and support services in By combining our knowledge and resources, we have been able to deliver positive benefits to both organisations in terms of quality and efficiency, as well as the cost-effectiveness and added value of our activities, with a strategic focus on research and innovation, as well as visibility. I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the success of CEN and CENELEC s activities during The Presidents and Vice-Presidents of both organisations for their leadership: it has been a real pleasure to work with such an excellent team in the Presidential Committee. All of our Members, Affiliates and Partners for their support and active involvement; the many thousands of experts who participate in our Technical Committees and Working Groups; as well as all of our other stakeholders and last but not least the staff of the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre for their hard work and commitment. Of course, the work of European standardization goes on, and so I look forward to the continuing growth of the CEN and CENELEC communities as well as the strengthening of our cooperation in the coming months and years! Cooperation with the international standardization organisations ISO and IEC remains a strategic priority for CEN and CENELEC. Improvements in the Vienna agreement between CEN and ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) are under consideration, with a view to speeding up the process for developing standards jointly. Meanwhile, we continue to promote the harmonisation of electrotechnical standards between CENELEC and IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) in the framework of the Dresden Agreement, resulting in 80% of work done in parallel. In this respect, I look forward to working diligently with the future Secretary General of IEC, Frans Vreeswijk, to build even closer links between our organisations. Elena Santiago Cid Director General of CEN and CENELEC

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7 The legal framework for European standardization

8 6 Malcolm Harbour MEP, Chairman of the IMCO Committee, and Lara Comi MEP, Rapporteur on European Standardization. During 2011, there was something of a landmark event concerning European legislation relating to standardization. As had been long-anticipated, the Commission adopted the so-called Standardization Package on 1 June. This comprised a proposal for an EU Regulation to replace the legal framework of European standardization previously enshrined in Directive 98/34/EC, and a policy document (Communication) on related policy issues. In general terms, CEN and CENELEC welcomed the Commission s proposals as a long-overdue reassessment providing the opportunity to re-focus EU policy requirements related to standardization. Some of the provisions in the proposed regulation could help to prevent fragmented approaches towards standards policy in different sectors and for different requirements. If introduced in the right way, they could also contribute to reinforcing the role of the European Standards Organisations as the principal platforms for open, voluntary, consensus-based standards development. However, not all of the Commission s proposals were supported by CEN and CENELEC, who were concerned that some of the unique strengths of the European Standardization System might be undermined. There appeared to be a contradiction between the demand for greater speed in standards development and the wish to involve more stakeholders in the process. Therefore, the aim should be to find ways of opening-up the process to all interested parties without imposing excessive financial and administrative burdens that would endanger the efficiency and sustainability of the system. CEN and CENELEC have been especially active in communicating their concerns towards the European Commission and making constructive suggestions for ways in which the proposed regulation could be improved. They have also shared their views with members of the European Parliament, by meeting with the individual MEPs responsible for drafting the Parliament s response, and also by taking part in the public hearing on European

9 7 Elena Santiago Cid, Director General of CEN and CENELEC, addresses the hearing at the European Parliament. David Dossett, President of CENELEC, and Dirk Weiler, Chairman of ETSI, at the European Parliament in Brussels. standardization which was held in Brussels on 23 November This public hearing was organised by the European Parliament s Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO). Elena Santiago Cid (Director General of CEN and CENELEC) and David Dossett (President of CENELEC) presented the views of CEN and CENELEC on the Commission s proposals and responded to questions regarding the role and functioning of the European Standards Organisations. In addition, CEN and CENELEC will seek to contribute fully to specific policy initiatives that are being developed in the framework of the Standardization Package, such as the European Commission s proposal to set up a Multi- Stakeholder Platform on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) standardization. The discussions on the proposed regulation continued during the second half of 2011 and into the first half of 2012, both in the European Parliament and in the EU Council of Ministers responsible for Competitiveness (Internal Market, Industry, Research and Space). CEN and CENELEC have continued to follow these deliberations and communicate their views to the relevant decisionmakers.

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11 Supporting European industry

12 10 During 2011, CEN and CENELEC have continued to include: a technical reference architecture for smart grids; a set of consistent standards to support information exchange and the integration of operators; sustainable standardization processes and collaborative tools to enable stakeholder interaction; and recommendations for ensuring information security. According to the agreed calendar, these documents should be produced by the end of strengthen their collaboration on the development of standards in a number of fields that are relevant to both communities. In many cases they are taking European standardization into new areas that represent the front lines of technological development and innovation in the modern economy. These include: smart grids and smart meters, electric vehicles (e-mobility), nuclear energy, defence procurement and space-related technologies. In these fields, where new products and solutions are constantly being developed, European standardization enables the needs of business and industry to be reconciled with policy objectives and regulatory requirements. In certain areas, CEN and CENELEC also work with ETSI, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute, thereby allowing the knowledge and expertise of all three European Standards Organisations (ESOs) and their respective communities to be shared and combined. smart Grids CEN, CENELEC and ETSI are working together to develop standards for the next generation of electricity networks, known as Smart Grids. According to the European Commission, smart electricity grids should reduce CO 2 emissions by 9% and household energy consumption by 10%. They will also facilitate the expansion of renewable energy including micro-generation of electricity using solar (photovoltaic) panels and wind turbines. The ESOs have been tasked by the European Commission (under standardization mandate M/490 accepted in June 2011) to deliver a series of documents. These M.SANCHEZ European Commission Recommendations for smart grid standardization in Europe Standards for Smart Grids The ESOs have set up a Smart Grid Coordination Group (SG-CG) with four working groups focusing on the main elements of the mandate. In 2011, the SG-CG produced a ranking of the standardization gaps which have to be closed in order to enable a seamless deployment of Smart Grids in Europe, and also delivered a standardization work programme to the European Commission. smart Metering The ESOs have been working together on standardization issues linked to the development and implementation of smart metering systems for the supply of electricity, gas, water and heat to households and businesses. This work has been undertaken in the framework of Mandate M/441 that was issued by the European Commission in The first phase of this mandate requests the ESOs to identify the main possible functional communication implementations relevant for smart metering systems and the standards needed to meet these requirements, in particular to enable the active participation of consumers. In order to carry out the requested work in an efficient and timely manner, CEN, CENELEC and ETSI decided to combine their expertise and resources by establishing the Smart Meters Coordination Group (SM-CG), with the participation of relevant stakeholders. The Technical Report on a Functional reference architecture for communications in smart metering systems (CEN-CLC- ETSI TR 50572) was published in December The second phase of EC Mandate M/441 is being implemented by the relevant technical committees of the three ESOs, which are drafting and/or revising standards containing harmonised solutions for additional functionalities to electricity, gas, water and heat meters. A full set of standards corresponding to the functional and technical requirements for smart metering implementation in Europe should be ready by the end of Extracted from the Final report of the CEN/CENELEC/ETSI Joint Working Group on Standards for Smart Grids E u r o p E a n Sta n d a r d S organiz at i o n S CEN-CENELEC-ETSI publication Standards for Smart Grids - recommendations for smart grid standardization in Europe. Published in 2011 with a foreword by Günther H. Oettinger, EU Commissioner for Energy. electric Vehicles (e-mobility) Public authorities at all levels are actively promoting electric vehicles as a way to reduce CO 2 emissions and air pollution from motor vehicles. At the same time, vehicle manufacturers and transport operators are investing in electric technology to make the most of renewable energy sources and smart grids, and offer their customers an affordable alternative to oil-based fuels such as petrol and diesel. In this context, the European Union has decided to encourage the deployment of charging infrastructures

13 for electric vehicles. There is wide recognition that relevant standards are needed at European level in order to create the conditions for mass-market take-up of electric vehicles. In June 2010, the European Commission issued Mandate M/468 to CEN, CENELEC and ETSI concerning the charging of electric vehicles. This mandate invites the ESOs to review existing standards and/or develop new European standards in order to ensure interoperability and connectivity between the electricity supply point and the charger of electric vehicles, but also between the (on board) charger of the electric vehicle (EV) and the EV and its removable battery. As a first step, CEN and CENELEC set up a Focus Group on European Electro-Mobility which produced in October 2011 a report presenting the specific standardization requirements for e-mobility in Europe. One of the main recommendations in this report was to establish a CEN-CENELEC Electro- Mobility Co-ordination Group. This group, chaired by David Dossett - CENELEC President, is responsible for monitoring and steering the work that is being done in a number of different Technical Committees. energy In 2011, CEN and CENELEC accepted Mandate M/479 from the European Commission for the elaboration of standards regarding energy audits. This ongoing work is closely related to the implementation of the European Directive 2006/32/EC on energy end-use and energy services and the Commission s proposal to repeal this Directive and replace it with a new Directive on energy efficiency. As part of the programme of the European Union Sustainable Energy Week (11-15 April 2011), the CEN- CENELEC Sector Forum on Energy Management organised, in cooperation with the Mission of Switzerland to the EU, a seminar on How Standards and Labels Contribute to Reaching Energy Efficiency Targets. This event was attended by some 60 persons and provided an opportunity for an exchange of views among stakeholders and with the European Commission on standardization activities in the area of energy management and energy efficiency. Participants were also informed about voluntary initiatives such as the Swiss initiative Cité de l Energie and the European Energy Award. nuclear Energy The kick-off meeting of the CEN-CENELEC Focus Group on Nuclear Energy standards took place in Brussels on 16 November The objective of the Group is to get a detailed overview of European requirements and how these could be best met in the context of the European legal and regulatory framework as well as the global standardization work undertaken by ISO and IEC. The delivery target for the Group s report containing recommendations for actions is the end of The Focus Group includes representatives of CEN and CENELEC national members, as well as other stakeholders such as European associations with an interest in this subject as well as officials from the European Commission. defence Procurement The CEN-CENELEC Stakeholder Forum for Defence Procurement Standardization (SFDPS) was set up during 2010 to help improve the interaction between the military and civil standards communities in Europe and provide a platform for the consideration of new standardization management activities to help facilitate defence procurement in Europe. The core participants of this group include CEN and CENELEC national members as well as the European Defence Agency (EDA), the NATO Standardization Agency (NSA) and the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR). The successful conclusion of the third phase of CEN Workshop 10 resulted in the publication of the third edition of CWA 15517, European Handbook for Defence Procurement (EHDP), in October The EHDP database contains references to standards and specifications commonly used to support Defence Procurement contracts, as well as guidance on the selection of standards and specifications to optimize effectiveness, efficiency, cost, and interoperability. It covers 19 domains including electrical interfaces, fuels and lubricants, paints and coatings, dependability and safety, waste management and disposal of munitions. Ownership of the database, now known as EDSTAR (European Defence Standards Reference), was handed over to the European Defence Agency during the TRISTAND conference in Budapest (Hungary) in June A Partnership Agreement signed between EDA and CEN in December 2011, completed by a Specific Contract, will ensure the maintenance of the EDSTAR database. security CEN and CENELEC accepted Mandate M/487 on Security Standards. The work under this mandate includes developing a list of priorities in the security area, and standardization work programmes and roadmaps related to the following sectors: security of citizens, security of infrastructures and utilities, border security, and restoring security and safety in case of crisis. A stakeholder meeting was organised in Brussels to kick off the activities under this mandate, and a Security Standards Coordination Group was set up to streamline the activities and ensure that they are carried out in a consistent and coherent manner. Furthermore, CEN and CENELEC set up a coordination group on cyber security standardization with the participation of ETSI in December 2011, in order to provide strategic 11

14 12 Standards have a crucial role to play in supporting the growth of a competitive space industry, which is seen as vital for Europe s economic future. advice in the field of IT security, cyber security and the prevention and detection of cyber-crime. The envisaged work requires high level coordination at European and international levels (in cooperation with ISO and IEC). space The European Space Policy aims to boost the competitiveness of Europe s space industry, which is seen as a crucial sector for developing scientific knowledge and technological innovation, nurturing economic activity and creating quality jobs. In the framework of European Mandate M/496 (issued in September 2011), CEN and CENELEC have set up a joint Technical Committee Space (CEN-CLC/TC 5). This TC is responsible for coordinating all standardization activities in CEN and CENELEC related to space, including dual use aspects, systems, as well as upstream and downstream applications. It should in particular develop European Standards that are needed to support the implementation of EU-level space projects, such as Galileo or GMES. CEN and CENELEC have also been involved in discussions with ECSS (European Cooperation for Space Standardization) with a view to defining the content of a cooperation agreement between the three organisations. Once signed, this agreement will enable CEN and CENELEC to benefit from the long-standing expertise of ECSS in the space sector by integrating it into the European Standards portfolio, either through parallel development of standards or through direct conversion of existing ECSS standards into European Standards (ENs). railways A brainstorming exercise with the railway stakeholders at European level, which was completed early in 2011, confirmed that the current structure for developing standards for railways, which for years has consisted of the Technical Committees CEN TC 256 and CENELEC TC 9X and their respective subcommittees, is still fit for meeting the current needs of the market. Nevertheless, it was felt that the initial Joint Programming Committee Rail (JPC Rail) should be reshaped as a dedicated forum focusing on the railways sector. Hence its terms of reference have been amended accordingly and it now reports directly to the CEN and CENELEC Technical Boards. Toy Safety Following the acceptance of Mandate M/445 on the Safety of Toys in 2009, CEN and CENELEC were successful in producing and publishing most of the relevant European Standards by July 2011 (or shortly after), when the new Toy Safety Directive (2009/48/EC) became directly applicable. These included standards on Safety of Toys Mechanical and Physical Properties (EN 71-1), Safety of toys - Activity toys for domestic use (EN 71-8) and Electric Toys (EN 62115).

15 Responding to key challenges

16 14 1st Open Workshop on e-accessibility (Brussels, 11 May 2011). From left to right: Chiara Giovannini, ANEC; Sara Cano, AENOR; Inmaculada Placencia Porrero, European Commission. Accessibility in the built environment. From left to right: Jésús Hernández, AENOR; Ulrich Paetzold, European Construction Industry Federation; Fionnuala Rogerson, Architects Council of Europe. CEN and CENELEC work to address key challenges that are relevant to the European Standardization System as a whole. These include the need to incorporate accessibility requirements into standards for products and services, the need to ensure that standards meet the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the need to take account of environmental considerations and ecodesign requirements, and the need to include information about standardization in educational curricula. Where possible, CEN and CENELEC also work with ETSI, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute, so that the three European Standards Organisations (ESOs) can develop a joint approach which is coherent, consistent and comprehensive. Accessibility Supporting the participation of disabled people and older persons including the promotion of active ageing represents a major societal challenge for Europe. The European Standards Organisations are working to better integrate the principles of accessibility in their standards, so that as many people as possible will be able to use the products and services which comply with European Standards. In 2011, CEN and CENELEC, also in collaboration with ETSI, worked on three main aspects of accessibility: access to the built environment, access to information and communication technologies (ICTs) - also known as e-accessibility, and integration of Design for All principles in a wider range of European Standards. The CEN Working Group on Accessibility in the built environment (CEN/BT/WG 207) and the CENELEC Working Group on Usability and safety of electrical products with reference to people with special needs (CENELEC/BT WG 101-5) worked together to respond to the European Mandate M/420 on European accessibility requirements for public procurement in the built environment. A report containing the inventory, analysis and feasibility of European and international accessibility standards in the built environment was finalised and approved by the CEN and CENELEC BTs (Technical Boards). Meanwhile, the CEN-CENELEC-ETSI Joint Working Group on e-accessibility was launched and two open meetings were organised in order to present the ongoing work to develop a European Standard for e-accessibility and guidance documents related to award criteria, conformity assessment and an online toolkit. The CEN Strategic Advisory Group on Accessibility (SAGA), which includes representatives of CENELEC and ETSI, started its activities in October SAGA is responsible for implementing Mandate M/473 on Design for All and is also providing input for the revision of ISO/IEC Guide 71 Guidelines for standards developers to address the needs of older persons and persons with disabilities. Promoting SME participation According to the European Commission, some 99% of all businesses in Europe are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with less than 250 full-time employees.

17 15 These companies provide some 70% of all private sector jobs and represent more than half of the total value created by businesses in the EU. However, SMEs are often underrepresented in standardization activities, and in many cases they might not be fully aware of the ways in which standards are relevant for their business, and how they could benefit from getting involved in the development of standards at national or European level. CEN and CENELEC have been actively working to make standardization activities more accessible for SMEs, working in partnership with their national members and also with European associations representing SMEs, such as NORMAPME. In 2011, the CEN-CENELEC SME Working Group completed its main task by finalising the Toolbox for solutions, which comprises a series of 58 recommendations. The practical implementation of these recommendations is being supported by two Task Forces on Communication towards SMEs and Trade Associations support to SMEs. The CEN-CENELEC Guide 17 on Writing standards taking into account micro, small and medium-sized enterprises needs was first published in 2010, with recommendations to standard writers on how to take SMEs needs into account. In 2011, the Guide was translated into 24 different languages and widely distributed to SMEs by national standards organisations. The SME helpdesk at the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre continued to provide answers to questions from SMEs, Trade Associations and other stakeholders. Providing the right reply - in the right language is achieved by working in close collaboration with the national helpdesks hosted by the National Standards Bodies and National Electrotechnical Committees. environment Standards also have a crucial role to play in relation to the concept of a resource-efficient Europe. There is a growing level of interest in the potential for standards to be used as a tool for raising environmental performance and improving energy efficiency. In 2011, CEN and CENELEC organised events to raise awareness among their members and more widely regarding how standards can contribute to energy efficiency, notably by integrating the principles of Ecodesign in the development of specifications for energyrelated products. Ecodesign can be defined as an approach to the design of a product that takes into account the environmental impacts of the product during its whole lifecycle. The so-called Ecodesign Directive 2009/125/EC lays down the legislative framework for the design of energy-related products such as air conditioning systems, ovens, lamps, personal computers and water heaters. In 2011, CEN and CENELEC accepted a Mandate (M/495) from the European Commission for the development of harmonised standards for a long list of energy-related products. These standards should enable conformity with the ecodesign requirements contained in productspecific regulations (Implementing Measures). This horizontal mandate implies a new way of working for CEN

18 16 Pavel Misiga, Head of Sustainable Consumption and Production, European Commission (DG Environment) - speaking at the CEN-CENELEC Seminar How to do more with less? Robert Brett, Chair of SABE, and Herbert Mrotzek, Chaiman of CENELEC/TC111 X Environment, at the CEN-CENELEC Seminar How to do more with less? (Brussels, 13 December 2011). and CENELEC, as they will also be directly involved in the development and drafting of the Ecodesign regulations. A one-day seminar on the role of standardization in support of the EU Roadmap to a resource-efficient Europe was organised by CEN and CENELEC in Brussels on 13 December This event brought together more than 90 participants including representatives of industry, public authorities, civil society and environmental organisations, as well as standardization experts and researchers, etc. The discussions at the seminar provided a basis for developing a set of recommendations and proposals on how European Standardization could support the implementation of the Resource Efficiency Roadmap, which has since been presented to the European Commission. The mapping of existing standardization activities in the field of Resource Efficiency will be initiated in 2012, alongside awareness-raising activities to ensure a systematic and coherent approach across CEN and CENELEC. Education about standardization The European Standards Organisations and their national members are committed to strengthening their links with universities and other educational institutions, in order to ensure that relevant information about standards and standardization can be included in educational curricula. This should be done across a wide range of subjects in which such knowledge could be of relevance and value to students. The CEN-CENELEC-ETSI Joint Working Group Education about Standardization (JWG-EaS) met three times during A questionnaire, which was circulated to CEN and CENELEC members in November 2010, resulted in several members contributing information about relevant national initiatives, providing a basis for examples of good practice to be selected and shared. In April 2011, the Joint Presidents Group (JPG) endorsed the CEN-CENELEC-ETSI policy on Education about Standardization developed by the JWG-EaS to serve as guidance material for the ESOs and their members to follow in matters concerning education about standardization. Steps toward the practical implementation of the policy elements resulted in the development of a model curriculum for educational establishments, which was finalised in June Work was also started on a curriculum addressing vocational education. The close contact with ICES (International Cooperation for Education about Standardization) was maintained through the participation of the Seconded European Standardization Expert in China in the ICES 2011 annual conference held in Hangzhou.

19 Linking standardization with research and innovation

20 18 At the Innovation Convention (Brussels, 5-6 December 2011): Ultan Mulligan, Director of Strategy and New Services, ETSI; and John Ketchell, Strategic Advisor, CEN and CENELEC. The key role of standardization as a bridge between research, innovation and the market has been recognised by all of the EU institutions. Standards are a valuable tool for market dissemination of research and development results and can therefore contribute to the objectives of the Innovation Union initiative in the framework of the Europe 2020 Strategy, and to the overall competitiveness of the European Union. In launching the Innovation Union initiative, the European Commission has recognised the important role standards play for innovation, noting that they enable dissemination of knowledge, interoperability between new products and services and provide a platform for further innovation (COM(2010) 546). This role is again underlined in the Commission s Communication on European Standardization (COM(2011) 311), which states that standards can help to bridge the gap between research and marketable products or services. The importance of standardization is also addressed in the Commission s proposal for a future EU programme on research and innovation, Horizon 2020 (COM(2011) 808). CEN and CENELEC are convinced that standardization can contribute to all three key priorities of Horizon 2020, namely: supporting excellent science, promoting industrial leadership, and addressing societal challenges. CEN and CENELEC took part in a discussion on European Standardization Standards in support of innovation at the European Parliament in Brussels on 30 March 2011, hosted by Ioannis Tsoukalas MEP, member of the Governing Board of the Knowledge4Innovation (K4I) Forum of the European Parliament. This provided an opportunity for dialogue between MEPs, EU officials, the European Standards Organisations, national governments, industry representatives and other stakeholders. The CEN-CENELEC Strategic Working Group on Standardization, Innovation and Research (STAIR) has promoted the vision that standardization should not be an afterthought of research and innovation projects but instead be considered right from the start, as part of an integrated approach. This is the approach that CEN and CENELEC have been developing and promoting through their contacts with the European Commission, with Members of the European Parliament, and with other stakeholders. The STAIR Group submitted its proposals on how to implement the concept of an integrated approach to the European Commission in March This was the CEN- CENELEC contribution to a public consultation, which was conducted by the Commission in order to inform the process of preparing proposals for the Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.

21 19 Information session on Standardization for research and innovation (Brussels, 9 September 2011). From left to right: Andreea Gulacsi, Unit Manager Research Integration; Elena Santiago Cid, Director General of CEN and CENELEC. The CEN and CENELEC Technical Boards also approved a proposal on how the organisations should pursue their participation in European research projects, taking account of their limited resources and making full use of the knowledge and expertise that is to be found among their members. In July 2011, CEN and CENELEC members were invited to appoint their own national contact points for all matters relating to research, development and innovation (RDI), and nearly all of them have responded positively to this request. This has been followed by the setting up of a network of national RDI correspondents within the CEN and CENELEC communities, known as RDI-COR. The RDI-COR network is working closely with the STAIR working group to bridge the gap between RDI and standardization, identify suitable funding and project opportunities in the framework of EU research programmes, and find partners within the standardization community. Throughout 2011 the Research Integration Unit of the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre (CCMC) has engaged in outreach towards the research and innovation community. Links have been established with European Technology Platforms (ETPs) and CCMC was invited to speak at several conferences and seminars. Further efforts were made to map the ETPs against the existing standardization work in CEN and CENELEC and to identify links and opportunities for collaboration. CEN and CENELEC hosted an information session for members of the research and innovation community in Brussels on 9 September 2011, in order to raise their awareness of standardization and inform them about why and how to include standardization in research and innovation projects. This interactive session gathered more than 60 participants including representatives of European research organisations and associations, the European Commission, National Standards Bodies, small businesses (NORMAPME), engineering and technology associations, and a number of leading European universities. The European Commission is paying more attention to this issue, and standardization is often being mentioned in calls for proposals under FP7 (7th Framework Programme) and other EU research programmes. The European Standards Organisations (CEN, CENELEC and ETSI) were represented at the first European Innovation Convention in Brussels on 5 and 6 December 2011, which attracted over 1200 high-level delegates from around the world. The ESOs hosted a joint stand in the exhibition area, providing information about how standards can help put the results of research and innovation into practice.

22 20 An informal working group on standardization, research and innovation has been set up in order to provide a platform for regular dialogue between the ESOs and officials of the European Commission (Directorates General for Enterprise & Industry, Information Society, Research & Innovation). Two meetings were held in 2011, when discussions focused in particular on linking standardization with research and innovation projects in the framework of the Horizon 2020 programme. One of the visible fruits of this cooperation is that the CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk is mentioned on the Cordis website, which is the official EU website providing information about the 7th Framework Programme (FP7). CCMC was invited to give a training on standardization for project officers of the Industrial Technologies Directorate (September) and a training on standardization for ongoing projects of the NMP (Nanotechnologies, Nanoscience, Materials, New Production Technologies) theme of FP7 (November). At the end of 2011, CCMC was invited to take part in meetings of the High-Level group on Nanotechnologies, which brought together representatives from the European Commission and the Member States.

23 European Standards on the world stage

24 22 Joint meeting with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and conference on Transatlantic Standardization Partnerships (Washington DC, USA, 12 October 2011). Karel De Gucht, EU Commissioner for Trade, addressed the conference via a video message. Developing partnerships with key standardization actors on the international stage is a major strategic priority for CEN and CENELEC. By fostering dialogue and technical exchanges with national and regional standards bodies in other parts of the world, and encouraging alignment of positions and international standards uptake, we achieve global harmonisation and businesses can benefit from a level playing field and access to new markets. In order to provide an inclusive and coherent approach to external relations matters, CEN and CENELEC work closely with ETSI on defining and implementing international cooperation strategies and activities through their joint platform: the CEN-CENELEC-ETSI External Relations Committee (ERC). During 2011, the ERC held 2 meetings and coordinated common approaches among the European Standards Organisations (ESOs) on various issues, including their contributions to regulatory dialogues. engaging in dialogues with key trading partners The three European Standards Organisations systematically participate in regulatory dialogues between the European Union and its major trading partners. The Working Groups on standardization are becoming more important as it is increasingly recognised that standardization has a vital impact on trade by supporting closer economic integration, opening up new markets and reducing costs for businesses. In addition, CEN and CENELEC hold regular meetings with the national standards organisations of key trading partners, and regulatory authorities are also invited to take part in these discussions. China The Standardization Working Group of the EU-China Regulatory Dialogue was held in Sanya (China) in November At this meeting, CEN and CENELEC representatives met with Chinese and European officials to discuss issues including: how to assess the economic benefits of standards; enterprises participation in standardization; smart grids and electric vehicles; IPR (intellectual property rights) related issues; and policies for transposing European Standards. The Working Group also agreed on the next steps in the implementation of the China-Europe Standards Information Platform (CESIP) project. CEN and CENELEC, together with the European Commission, EFTA and ETSI, are partners in two projects which aim at improving cooperation with China on standardization matters, namely the Seconded European Standardization Expert in China (SESEC) and the EU- China Standards Information Platform (CESIP). These projects provide information about European Standards to Chinese businesses and regulators, and also offer support to European companies that want to do business in China by answering all of their standards-related questions and facilitating contacts with the responsible authorities.

25 23 Ivar Jachwitz, Chairman of CEN-CENELEC-ETSI External Relations Committee (left), attending the Pan-American Standards Commission (COPANT) General Assembly in Santiago, Chile on 12 and 13 May Russia Important regulatory negotiations took place between Russia and the EU in June 2011 in Brussels and in December 2011 in Moscow. The ESOs attended the meetings of the Working Group on standardization and conformity assessment and obtained valuable information regarding the ongoing reform of Russia s regulatory system and the alignment of technical regulations and standards. During these meetings, the ESOs also learned about Russia s plans to establish a customs union together with Belarus and Kazakhstan, including the harmonisation of technical regulations and standards. CEN and CENELEC also held meetings with the Russian Standards Institute, Rosstandart, with a view to negotiating a formal cooperation agreement among the three organisations. Depending on the final outcome of these negotiations, cooperation could include participation in Technical Committees, the organisation of seminars and the exchange of standards between Europe and Russia. USA For the first time, CEN and CENELEC were invited in 2011 to participate in the High Level Regulatory Cooperation Forum, which provides a platform for discussions between senior officials from the European Commission and the Federal Government of the United States of America. The meeting addressed efforts to ensure better regulation, the use of voluntary standards in support of legislation and regulations, and the coordination of topics between the EU and the USA. This was also an opportunity for CEN and CENELEC to inform the American officials about the specificities of the European Standardization System. The Joint Presidents Group (JPG) of the three European Standards Organisations continues to hold regular meetings with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in order to discuss issues of common interest and opportunities for cooperation. Such a meeting took place in Washington DC on 11 October 2011, with around 50 participants including representatives of CEN, CENELEC and ETSI as well as the European Commission (EC) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). The JPG-ANSI meeting was followed on 12 October by a conference on Transatlantic Standardization Partnerships, with a particular focus on e-mobility and electric vehicles, energy, and security issues. The conference was hosted by the US Chamber of Commerce as part of the programme for ANSI s World Standards Week It attracted some 150 participants from the USA and Europe, including representatives of industry, government, standards organisations, conformity assessment bodies, the scientific and technical communities and other stakeholders.

26 24 Francisco Verdera Marí of AENOR (far right) represented the CEN-CENELEC-ETSI External Relations Committee at the 39th bi-annual meeting of the EuroAsian Interstate Council for Standardization, Metrology and Certification (EASC), held in Turkmenbashy, Turkmenistan on 11 and 12 May japan CEN and CENELEC held their regular meeting with JISC, the Japanese Industrial Standards Committee, in September In addition to the technical discussions and secretariat meeting that regularly take place within this framework, the parties discussed how they could revise the format and agendas of future meetings in order to achieve a better mutual understanding of their respective systems and contribute to the alignment of positions on matters of common interest wherever possible. These discussions resulted in an agreement on how to improve the dialogue with JISC. Promoting the European Standardization System Internationally In addition to the international cooperation activities that are led jointly by the three European Standards Organisations (ESOs) in order to reinforce the visibility of the European Standardization System and to deliver a coherent and unified message to the outside world, CEN and CENELEC also pursue their objective of market harmonisation through the promotion of the European standardization model and its deliverables via specific partnerships and other dedicated agreements. Affiliates National Standards Bodies in countries that participate in the European Neighbourhood Policy can benefit from the status of Affiliates with CEN and CENELEC. At the end of 2011, following the decision to welcome the Moroccan Industrial Standardization Service as a CENELEC Affiliate, there were respectively 19 and 12 Affiliates of CEN and CENELEC. Affiliates are invited to participate in the CEN and CENELEC General Assemblies and participate in the work of Technical Bodies (as observers). They also receive all technical and general documentation and have access to the complete catalogue of CEN and CENELEC standards, which they can distribute and sell within their respective countries. In order to gain a better understanding of the Affiliates and their needs, CEN and CENELEC carried out a survey of all their Affiliates during the first half of The responses to this survey highlighted the importance of finding ways to attract industry and other stakeholders to participate in standardization activities at national level. Consequently, the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre obtained financial support from the European Commission (under the TAIEX programme) to organise a workshop on Participation of SMEs in standardization which took place in Brussels in January Other specific actions are also being undertaken to support CEN and CENELEC Affiliates in adapting their national structures and processes in line with the European Standardization System.

27 25 Meeting the delegation of the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) at the ISO General Assembly in New Delhi from 21 to 23 September From left to right: Diana Dus, International Cooperation Unit, CEN-CENELEC; Soyoung Joo, Director International Standards Cooperation Division, KATS; Elena Santiago Cid, Director General of CEN and CENELEC; Kyung Huh, Administrator Kats; Ivar Jachwitz, Chairman of the ESOs External Relations Committee; Kisoo Oh, Deputy Director, KATS. Partner Standardization Bodies Following the conclusion of a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between Mongolia and the European Union in 2010, Mongolia s National Standardization Body, MASM (Mongolian Agency for Standardization and Metrology), wished to cooperate with CEN and CENELEC and explore possibilities for using and implementing European Standards. MASM officially became CEN s second Partner Standardization Body on 1 July 2011, thereby allowing for technical cooperation whenever relevant. further expanded their network of relationships with international stakeholders, by signing an MoU with the International Federation of Standards Users (IFAN). Memoranda of Understanding Wishing to ensure a coherent and consistent approach, the three European Standards Organisations (ESOs) CEN, CENELEC and ETSI have been working towards the conclusion of joint Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with standards bodies in other countries that were previously covered by separate agreements. In this framework, the ESOs have been involved in negotiations with AMN (Mercosur Association for Standardization), EASC (EuroAsian Interstate Council for Standardization, Metrology and Certification), and GSO (The Standardization Organisation of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf). The joint MoU between the ESOs and AMN was concluded and signed before the end of 2011, and shows the growing importance of trade relations between the EU and the Americas. CEN and CENELEC Ross Wraight, President of IFAN and Elena Santiago Cid, Director General of CEN and CENELEC following the signature of the CEN-CENELEC Agreement with the International Federation of Standards Users (IFAN).

28 26 Cooperation Agreements Quality Infrastructure in the Western Balkans and Turkey - This project was originally launched in February CEN and CENELEC were involved in discussions with 2009, covering Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) to prepare the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, a Cooperation Agreement in support of the ongoing Serbia, Turkey and Kosovo (UNSCR 1244/99). The main trade negotiations between the EU and Canada. The purpose has been to improve the capabilities of ministries parties are convinced that cooperation on technical and quality infrastructure bodies, all of which have been issues will contribute to the improvement of transatlantic implementing strategies to comply with EU legislation and trade relations, and bring real benefits to European and enable the integration of their economies into the European Canadian businesses. Single Market. In 2011, the project delivered nine Training Seminars, submitted a final report on the work completed Adoption of European Standards under the first contract (which ended in August 2011) and negotiated the conclusion of a new contract (IPA 2011) with the European Commission and EFTA. The new contract will allow this important programme to be continued for another period of 30 months (up until February 2014). In line with their continuing efforts to promote the European Standardization System world-wide, CEN and CENELEC also undertook an exercise to monitor the national implementation of standards provided to third countries under various agreements. CCMC initiated the establishment of a system to ensure that information is received on the adoption rates and possible modifications of these standards, in order to be able to assess the level of harmonisation of standards with third countries and regions. Technical Assistance Technical Assistance Projects are valuable as a means of promoting the European model of standardization and conformity assessment by sharing knowledge and know-how with the responsible bodies and authorities in developing countries and emerging economies. During 2011, CEN and CENELEC were responsible for a number of Technical Assistance projects to improve the beneficiaries quality infrastructure, as well as to promote European Standards in various parts of the world. TACIS Harmonisation of Electricity Standards - CEN and CENELEC led a consortium that was responsible for implementing a technical assistance project that covered eleven TACIS countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. The project started in September 2009 and ended in March The project supported the countries uptake of international standards, rules and practices, focusing in particular on equipment standards in the electricity sector. The overall objective was to contribute to improving the prospects for energy market integration within Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia, and with the EU. The project partners produced a medium-term strategy paper and handbook on the harmonisation process. These were officially presented to stakeholders at the final conference in Kiev (Ukraine) on 8 February Support to China s Sustainable Trade and Investment System (EUCTP-STIS) - This technical assistance project aims to improve trade cooperation between the European Union and China. CEN and BSI (British Standards Institute) are partners in the project for one of the main components, which relates to Quality Infrastructure and Technical Barriers to Trade. Various activities are being implemented, including technical exchanges, seminars and workshops. Cooperation with ISO and IEC CEN and CENELEC continue to develop their cooperation with ISO (International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission), across a wide range of specific issues and areas of activity. In particular, this includes close collaboration in the field of information technology (IT), with mutual participation in relevant Working Groups and initiatives. Several IT projects are being developed in partnership between CEN and ISO (including ecommittee and Global Directory) and between CENELEC and IEC (including the new CENELEC website and a common online voting system). The CEN-CENELEC Management Centre is represented in the ISO IT Advisory Group and actively participated in the ISO IT Forum at the end of 2011.

29 Raising awareness and visibility

30 28 CEN-CENELEC New Year Reception. From left to right: David Dossett, CENELEC President, and Juan Carlos López Agüí, CEN President. In order to raise awareness and improve understanding of the European Standardization System, and also to increase the visibility of CEN and CENELEC and their activities towards key audiences, various means are being used. These include events such as conferences, seminars and workshops, publications including brochures and newsletters, websites, social media and online networks. events organised by CEN and CENELEC CEN and CENELEC organised a wide range of events in 2011, addressing a variety of target groups and dealing with many different themes related to standardization. Thematic events included: an information session on Linking research and standardization (Brussels, 9 September 2011), aimed at members of the research and innovation community; and a seminar on Standards for a resource efficient Europe (Brussels, 13 December 2011), which brought together more than 90 participants including EU officials and representatives of industry and other stakeholders. The CEN-CENELEC New Year Reception 2011 was held in the Solvay Library in Brussels on 26 January 2011, close to the European institutions in Brussels. This annual networking event provides an opportunity for the Presidents of CEN and CENELEC to address representatives from the EU institutions and a wide variety of stakeholders, and inform them about the achievements and priorities of both organisations. The event attracted more than 160 guests including senior officials from various Directorates General in the European Commission. CEN-CENELEC StandarDays is a two-day training and information event that provides an introduction to European Standardization for people who have little previous knowledge of standards. The event aims to give a clear and structured overview of the European Standardization System, of CEN and CENELEC products and processes, and the benefits that are available to stakeholders who get involved in standardization activities. The two sessions held at the CEN-CENELEC Meeting Centre in 2011 (on May and September) were filled to maximum capacity, attracting some 200 participants in total. StandarDays is open to all stakeholders including: large and small businesses; trade and industry associations; societal and environmental groups; academic, educational and research bodies, public authorities, national and European institutions, etc. The feedback received from participants shows that they appreciate StandarDays as a valuable opportunity to gain knowledge and understanding. The programme of StandarDays is regularly improved and updated. Additions made for the September 2011 session included a presentation from the perspective of a standards user (in this case a leading manufacturer of children s toys)

31 29 Participants of the 8th PR Roundtable for the communication specialists of CEN and CENELEC Members in Zagreb (Croatia) on October and another on the connections and differences between standards, copyrights and patents in the framework of Intellectual Property Rights. The CEN-CENELEC Annual Meeting 2011 was hosted by the Polish Committee for Standardization (PKN) in Krakow (Poland) on 7 and 8 June This was an especially interesting time to hold the Annual Meeting in Poland, just a few weeks before the country was due to take over the Presidency of the Council of the EU for the very first time in its history. The Open Assembly of the CEN and CENELEC Communities was held in the prestigious Promotion Hall of the Collegium Novum in the Jagiellonian University. This was an opportunity for the Presidents of the European Standards Organisations and the International Standards Organisations to address some 174 participants, mostly representatives of national standards institutions, Associate Members and Cooperating Partners, on their main achievements during the previous 12 months. The European Commission was represented by Daniel Calleja Crespo, Deputy Director General for Enterprise and Industry, who explained the main elements of the Commission s standardization package that had been published on 1 June. There was also a panel discussion on the integration of European Standardization with research and innovation activities, with the participation of leading experts from the worlds of academia and research, as well as business and industry. CEN-CENELEC PR Roundtable - The annual gathering of Communication and Public Relations Managers of CEN and CENELEC members was hosted by the Croatian Standards Institute in Zagreb on 27 and 28 October The theme of this 8th PR Roundtable was About Standards Design your communication to engage your stakeholders, building on the lessons learned from the previous year s event in Cyprus. The event in Zagreb was attended by communication managers from 15 countries as well as ETSI and ISO. Participants developed an action plan to raise public awareness of European Standardization by coordinating the national communication campaigns of CEN and CENELEC members. They agreed to cooperate on preparing communication materials explaining the role of standards in five specific areas: e-mobility, services, construction products, energy and environment/ sustainability. The Finnish Standards Association has kindly offered to host the 9th CEN-CENELEC PR Roundtable in Helsinki (in September 2012).

32 30 Visibility towards Presence at conferences and the European institutions exhibitions Increasing awareness and understanding with regard to the role of standards and the European Standardization System among officials and decision-makers in the European institutions is a key priority for CEN and CENELEC. Targeted activities and events are being organised in line with this objective, and CEN and CENELEC are also actively participating in policy debates hosted by various organisations. What you always wanted to know about standardization in Europe was the title of a half-day information session for European Commission officials that was organised by CEN and CENELEC on 7 January The event attracted more than 50 participants including representatives of ten different Directorates-General. The programme included presentations on: the European Standardization System; the role of standards in relation to innovation, research and development; the role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); the use of IT tools in standardization; as well as market access and international cooperation. CEN and CENELEC contributed to a lunch debate organised by the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) on European Standards: simpler, more voice and fast track? (12 July 2011). The speakers included: Edvard Kožušník MEP, Elena Santiago Cid, Director General of CEN and CENELEC, and Paul Coebergh van den Braak from the European business and industry association BusinessEurope. The European Commission s World Standards Day 2011 Conference took place in Brussels on 14 October, with the participation of CEN and CENELEC representatives. This event focused on how standardization contributes to the competitiveness of the European economy and included panel discussions on Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), Security Industrial Policy, and Interoperability in Space. The three European Standards Organisations jointly hosted an information stand, where they presented various brochures and publications about their activities. CEN and CENELEC contributed actively to a public hearing on European Standardization at the European Parliament in Brussels on 23 November The hearing was organised by the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO), in order to allow stakeholders the opportunity to present their views and comments regarding the Proposal for a Regulation on European Standardization (COM(2011)315) that was put forward by the European Commission on 1 June. Elena Santiago Cid (Director General of CEN and CENELEC) and David Dossett (President of CENELEC) presented the views of CEN and CENELEC on the Commission s proposals and responded to questions regarding the role and functioning of the European Standards Organisations. Throughout the year, CEN and CENELEC have participated in numerous conferences, seminars and exhibitions. This activity contributes to increasing the visibility and raising awareness of European standardization. As part of the programme of the European Union Sustainable Energy Week (11-15 April 2011), the CEN- CENELEC Sector Forum on Energy Management organised, in cooperation with the Mission of Switzerland to the EU, a conference and debate on How Standards and Labels Contribute to Reaching Energy Efficiency Targets. CEN and CENELEC also provided relevant information materials for the exhibition that was held during the European Union s Green Week in Brussels from 24 to 27 May These were presented to participants on the information stand hosted by ECOS (the European Environmental Citizens Organisation for Standardisation), which is an Associate Member of CEN and a Cooperating Partner of CENELEC. Information materials on SMEs and Standardization were made available to the participants of a major European Conference on Mobilising SMEs for the Future of Europe, which took place in Gödöllö near Budapest on 24 and 25 May 2011, as part of the programme of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU. Members of the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) were also provided with information on European standardization at their Annual Conference in Warsaw, from 26 to 28 September. The conference programme included a presentation on Standardization a vital tool for European businesses delivered by experts from CCMC, and participants were also given USB sticks with information on why standards are relevant for SMEs. The European Standards Organisations were represented at the first European Innovation Convention in Brussels on 5 and 6 December 2011, which attracted over 1200 high-level delegates from around the world. The ESOs hosted a joint information stand in the exhibition area, where delegates had the opportunity to learn about the role of standardization in supporting research and innovation. CEN and CENELEC were also represented at an international workshop on medical software harmonisation in Brussels on 12 October, jointly organised by the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre and COCIR, the European trade association representing the medical imaging, electromedical and healthcare IT industry.

33 31 Linking research and standardization Integrating standards in your research project: a pocket guide for project proposers Publications In 2011 the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre distributed more than brochures, leaflets and publications. These included printed copies and in electronic format (PDF) on USB sticks. Brochures, newsletters, and policy opinions are published on the websites of CEN ( CENELEC ( and CEN-CENELEC ( CONNECT is a quarterly newsletter that presents an overview of CEN and CENELEC s most important activities during the previous three months, together with information about ongoing developments and forthcoming events. The newsletter is published electronically (pdf format) on the websites of CEN and CENELEC, and since the start of 2012 on the joint CEN-CENELEC website. All members and partners of the CEN and CENELEC communities receive an message to inform them when a new issue is published. alerts are also sent to various stakeholders, officials and decision-makers in the EU institutions, and other individuals and organisations with an interest in European Standardization. CEN - European Committee for Standardization CENELEC - European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization European Standardization supports energy efficiency Energy is essential for the functioning of our modern society. Nevertheless, the burning of fossil fuels for energy is a major source of air pollution, contributing to global warming and climate change. Making a better and more rational use of energy has therefore become essential for the sustainable development of our society. CEN and CENELEC contribute significantly to achieving the EU objectives on energy efficiency. European Standards support existing European legislation on eco-design of energy related products, energy labeling or energy efficiency in buildings. Standardization promotes best practices, provides harmonized methodologies in order to measure energy consumption, and tools in order to optimize installations and systems and improve energy efficiency. CEN and CENELEC have published in the last two years standards on energy management systems and energy efficiency services and are currently developing standards on subjects such as energy audits, energy efficiency benchmarking, energy saving calculations or calculation of energy consumption and green house emissions in transport. CEN and CENELEC are also working in the identification of the standards needed to support the deployment of smart grids and smart meters. CEN - European Committee for Standardization CENELEC - European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization European standardization: supporting food safety A key aim of CEN and CENELEC is the provision of standards that promote and enhance the safety of a wide range of products and services. For over 40 years, CEN and CENELEC have been developing European Standards for food quality including dairy products and cereals. With the ever-increasing public awareness of food safety and the media reporting of recent food safety concerns, it is important that consumers are reassured and protected. Given the sophistication of the modern food chain and the globalization of food production from farm to fork, CEN is contributing to EU-led initiatives* by developing European Standards to ensure safe food for European consumers. These standards comprise test methods to determine the presence of heavy metals, mycotoxins and other contaminants in food products, including determining the microbiological quality of food and food hygiene during production. CEN is also developing standards to ensure the provision of safe animal feed. *Regulation EC 882/2004 on official controls performed to ensure the verification of compliance with food and feed law, animal health and animal welfare rules CEN and CENELEC create European Standards CEN and CENELEC create European Standards info@cencenelec.eu - Energy@cencenelec.eu infodesk@cencenelec.eu Joint CEN-CENELEC publications that were prepared and issued in 2011 include: Standards@work a visual presentation on European Standards in the workplace; and Linking Research and Standardization a pocket guide for coordinators and proposers of European research projects. Other publications that were prepared and issued in partnership with ETSI include: Standards for Smart Grids recommendations for smart grid standardization in Europe, based on the final report of the ESOs Joint Working Group on Smart Grids; and a brochure on Standardization supporting accessibility. CEN also issued an information leaflet to promote the CEN Workshop Agreement (CWA 16259) on Responsible Remote Gambling Measures. A total of 34 press releases were issued by the CENCENELEC Management Centre in These press releases can be found on the CEN, CENELEC and CENCENELEC websites. In order to raise awareness of European Standardization and increase their visibility towards key actors and decision-makers, CEN and CENELEC place relevant articles and targeted advertising in selected publications.

34 32 An article on Smart Meter Standardization Challenges in Europe, describing the work of the CEN-CENELEC-ETSI Smart Meters Coordination Group, was published in the trade magazine Metering International (issue 3/2011). The position of CEN and CENELEC regarding Europe s energy future and European Standardization was presented in the international affairs Policy Journal Europe s World (issue 19, Autumn 2011). Work continued during the whole of 2011 on preparing and building a new joint website for CEN and CENELEC, in order to present information on joint activities and horizontal topics that are relevant for both organisations. The CEN-CENELEC website ( was launched in January It complements the existing websites of CEN and CENELEC by providing easy access to general information about European Standards. Thematic advertisements were placed in the weekly newspaper European Voice in the context of special features addressing relevant topics (namely: farming and food, green technologies, health, energy efficiency and research). Further thematic adverts were placed in The Parliament Magazine, which focuses on the policy debates happening in the European Parliament. These highlighted the contribution of European Standardization to resource efficiency, children s safety, and the healthcare sector. websites and interactive media The CEN-CENELEC Management Centre provides the websites of CEN and CENELEC, as well as the Joint CEN- CENELEC website. The CEN website ( was consulted more than one million times in 2011 ( visits). The design and structure of this website will be reviewed and revised in 2012 and A new CENELEC website ( was launched at the end of March 2011, presenting information on electrotechnical standardization activities at European level. In view of the fact that most CENELEC members and stakeholders are also involved in following the work of the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission), the structure and layout of the new website is aligned with the IEC website ( CEN and CENELEC are also making use of social media networks such as Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter to spread news and information regarding European Standardization. Facebook: Linkedin: Twitter: The CEN-CENELEC infodesk Maintains a high quality service level in answering external requests and enquiries related to European Standards and standardization. The infodesk receives enquiries by telephone, letters and s and also via the CEN and CENELEC websites. In 2011 the infodesk received enquiries, and 96% of these were answered within five working days. Answers to frequently asked questions are published in the FAQ sections on the CEN, CENELEC and CEN- CENELEC websites. These answers are regularly reviewed and updated, while new questions and information are also being added.

35 Towards a more efficient and effective European Standardization System

36 34 Participants of the Technical Body Officers Seminar at the CEN-CENELEC Meeting Centre in Brussels on 7 December CEN and CENELEC are constantly looking for ways to streamline and improve their structures and procedures, in order to create a more efficient and effective European Standardization System and respond to the evolving needs and requirements of customers and stakeholders. The aim is always to balance the need for efficiency with the demands of an open process that encourages the active involvement of stakeholders and enables the development of high-quality standards based on consensus. cen and CENELEC Technical Boards The Technical Boards (BTs) of CEN and CENELEC are responsible for the overall management of the technical work that is being carried out by the two organisations in their respective domains of activity. Recognising that a growing number of topics are of interest to both organisations, practical steps have been taken to improve efficiency and effectiveness, including the simultaneous circulation of documents to both BTs and the alignment of decision-making processes. During 2011, a number of topics of common interest, such as Accessibility, Smart Grids, e-mobility, Cyber Security and Space have been discussed by both entities and have resulted in the establishment of joint groups. Such joint coordination groups help to ensure the most efficient management of standardization activities in these domains, taking into account the needs of all interested stakeholders. Discussions on other topics have led to the adoption by both BTs of common guidance, such as the brochure Consortium Bridge - Making CEN-CENELEC a more attractive place to adopt third-party specifications as European Standards, which identifies the processes and procedures that can be used to adopt technical specifications developed by third-parties (such as fora and consortia) as European Standards. cen and CENELEC Technical Body Officers A seminar was organised in Brussels on 7 December 2011 for the officers of Technical Bodies who are responsible for managing standardization activities and developing standards at European level, with around 90 participants in total. The event was mainly intended for chairpersons and secretaries of CEN and CENELEC Technical Bodies, and was also open to representatives from National Committees and National Standards Bodies. This is the first time that such an event has been held as a joint activity, including officers from both CEN and CENELEC Technical Bodies. The seminar covered a wide variety of topics, including rules and processes for standards work, information on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), and the integration of accessibility requirements in standards. Particular attention was given to the importance of integrating standardization activities with relevant research, the potential contribution of fora and consortia to standardization and also the role of business and industry associations at both national and European levels.

37 new criteria for membership of CEN and CENELEC The new CEN-CENELEC Guide 20 on membership criteria of CEN and CENELEC was prepared by the Joint Working Group on membership and adopted by the CEN and CENELEC General Assemblies in June This guide is the official reference document describing the criteria to be fulfilled by all national members of CEN and CENELEC. Most of these criteria are based on the World Trade Organisation s Code of good practice for the preparation, adoption and application of standards which is annexed to the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT). However, some of the criteria include more stringent provisions in order to reflect the specificity of the European Standardization System, such as the obligations to adopt each EN at national level and to withdrawn any national standard conflicting with an EN. The General Assemblies invited each member of CEN and/or CENELEC to undertake a self-assessment on the fulfilment of these membership criteria as a pilot exercise in 2012, as preparation for introducing a permanent system of assessment starting in european Standards documents The CCMC Standards Publications Unit has as its main responsibility to process and edit the texts of all CEN and CENELEC deliverables in line with the Internal Regulations thus ensuring a coherent set of quality standards in terms of content and layout. A significant development during 2011 was the establishment of a common CEN-CENELEC Translation Procedure, based on the CEN Translation Procedure that has already been in place since This procedure provides for the accurate and timely translation of documents between the three official languages (English, French and German) and reduces the risk of delays to the drafting process. In 2011, the CCMC Standards Publications Unit carried out a survey in order to collect feedback from the secretaries of Technical Bodies. The responses were largely positive, indicating a high level of satisfaction with the assistance and support provided by CCMC editors. cooperation with the European Commission and EFTA Mandates addressed to CEN and/or CENELEC by the European Commission and EFTA (European Free Trade Association) are systematically submitted to the relevant Technical Board(s) for formal acceptance. In 2011, the European Commission addressed no less than 24 mandates to the ESOs, 23 of which were accepted by CEN and/or CENELEC, in accordance with their respective domains of activity (the remaining mandate was accepted by ETSI). With a view to improving the initial response time of CEN and CENELEC to future mandates issued by the European Commission and EFTA, an analysis of the current mandate acceptance process was carried out in 2011, leading to the development of a new procedure. This new procedure depends on the greater involvement of the ESOs in the drafting of mandates, and aims to ensure that mandates can be accepted by CEN and/or CENELEC within a period of not more than four weeks. Partnership with European organisations CEN and CENELEC started reviewing their respective concept of Partnership with European organisations in order to prepare the development of a coordinated policy towards building partnerships with European organisations, associations and other recognised stakeholders. An adhoc working group prepared a first draft document, which was sent to CEN and CENELEC members for consultation at the end of cen-cenelec Legal Platform The CEN and CENELEC Boards decided to establish a common Legal Platform. This is an informal network that provides advice to the Governing Bodies on specific legal matters that are relevant to the CEN and CENELEC communities and which could require a coordinated response. The Legal Platform also serves to encourage and facilitate the exchange of information and knowledge among legal advisors and experts from national, European and international standardization bodies. In 2011, the Legal Platform discussed several different topics and provided advice to the CEN and CENELEC Boards, often in coordination with the CEN-CENELEC Joint Commercial Advisory Group (JCAG). copyright and trademarks Coordinated actions have been undertaken to protect the copyright of national, European and international standard documents. The CEN-CENELEC Management Centre was requested to be actively involved in followingup specific cases of copyright infringements by several websites based in China, Russia and other countries. These actions were coordinated with ISO and IEC. Following the European Commission s study on the Interplay between Standards and Intellectual Property Rights, the Legal Platform reviewed and revised the CEN- CENELEC Guide 8 on the implementation of the Common IPR Policy, in order to clarify some legal aspects. 35

38 36 Further initiatives are also being taken by CEN and CENELEC future standardization to develop a common approach on copyright protection, products including the implementation of a general watermarking system and other protection practices on ENs. The Legal Platform also provided advice on a policy to protect the trademarks of CEN and CENELEC, and agreed to develop guidance on the protection of these trademarks, in order to prevent their misuse by third parties. cen-cenelec IT Strategy The CEN and CENELEC Administrative Boards (CAs) have adopted a short to medium-term IT Strategy and action plan, which aims to better use and build on existing tools and align the levels of services and automation between CEN and CENELEC. The joint IT Strategy provides a framework for upgrading and aligning the various IT tools and services, and enabling the integration of digital working environments in order to facilitate more efficient collaboration between standards organisations at national, European and international levels. Work has also been started on the development of a long-term strategy, which will respond to the objectives of meeting customer needs, facilitating access to information and enabling vertical and horizontal collaboration. CEN and CENELEC are determined to ensure that their products and services are being offered in ways that respond to the evolving needs and requirements of standards users. This is why there is a permanent need to develop new solutions and tools, for example to provide standard users with practical guidance on how to implement a particular standard (using videos or other means), or with information about relevant European legislation (such as EU Directives and Regulations). There is also growing interest in the concept of smart bundles of standards which could allow seamless navigation across the content of several standards, and the potential for enabling users to access standards via tablets and smart phones. In order to prepare for the future, CCMC will integrate publication capabilities in XML format, which is the technology that has been chosen amongst the standardization world to support this new evolution. In June 2011, the CEN and CENELEC Administrative Boards have approved a project to deliver standards content in XML format and progressive conversion of the standards back catalogue. e-commenting In the age of the internet, electronic means offer new possibilities that can make it easier for a wide range of stakeholders to comment on draft documents and standards that are under development. The issue of how to implement effective e-commenting systems has therefore become a priority for standards organisations at all levels. A CEN-CENELEC Task Force ecomments has been created under the umbrella of the Joint Working Group IT Strategy to discuss public commenting and associated electronic facilities. The members of this Task Force include representatives of 22 National Standards Bodies, ETSI, ISO and IEC. The European Commission is also supporting the development of e-commenting systems with an initiative under the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP). cen-cenelec Statistical Pack The CEN-CENELEC Management Centre publishes a Statistical Pack on a quarterly basis. The Statistical Pack provides a consolidated and coherent overview of statistical information on various aspects of CEN and CENELEC activities, including: publications, work programme, development timeframe, international relations and relations to EU legislation. The CEN-CENELEC Quarterly Statistical Pack is provided to the members of both communities, and is also publicly available on the CEN-CENELEC website (under about us ). It represents a valuable tool for identifying trends in European standardization and monitoring the implementation of European Standards in all of the 32 countries that are part of the CEN and CENELEC systems.

39 37 cen-cenelec Management Centre In January 2012, there were a total of 88 people working at the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre (CCMC) in Brussels. They included 65 CEN employees and 23 CENELEC employees. The working conditions for all the employees were aligned during To this end, the salary policy, employees benefit schemes, and relevant Collective Labour Agreements have been revised and identical work rules agreed for both organisations. Building on the management of individual competences, over 91% of training requests were met, through a total of 315 training sessions and workshops. Most of the staff (82%) recognise that individual development is encouraged and 9% registered to participate in Life-Long Learning programmes during A critical aspect of training is to ensure tangible business application after the learning has taken place. Bearing in mind continual performance improvement, three elements of effectiveness are measured from the line management perspective, 6 to 9 months after the training occurred. The most recent evaluation shows evidence of increasing results (67%), learning new skills (73%), and improving behaviour (87%). Furthermore, focusing on organisational culture and leadership, quarterly HR Information Sessions took place with topics such as personal development, managing change, job profiles and job functions approached in a creative manner. These sessions offer a platform for introducing Human Resources Management concepts and encouraging employees commitment to the overall process. A teambuilding day was organised for all members of CCMC staff at the start of The theme of this event was Linking CCMC Operations to the CEN and CENELEC Strategies. Employees were challenged to work in teams and use their creative talents to represent how their individual contributions supports the CCMC Business Plan related to the CEN and CENELEC strategies. In maintaining the Quality Management System (QMS), internal audits resulted in the identification of 121 recommendations for improvement and 8% of actions resulting from internal audits have been included in the 2012 Business Plan. During the 2011 management review, Senior Management confirmed officially that the QMS was operational, effective and continually improving. The surveillance audit took place end of November 2011 and led to the retention of the EN ISO 9001 certificate. Recommendations for improvement were identified with regard to a number of specific issues including: the evaluation of suppliers, increasing the visibility of feedback, reinforcement of project management principles in certain areas, etc.

40 38 Strategic Adviser John KETCHELL Director General Elena SANTIAGO CID Legal Affairs Bardo SCHETTINI GHERARDINI Human Resources & Quality Isabel QUINTANA-SORIA External Relations Sarah PENNY Innovation Ashok GANESH Standards Jean-Paul VETSUYPENS Finance & Facilities Patrick MEERT Electronic Data Processing Renée VANDER CAMMEN International Cooperation Diana DUS Research Integration Andreea GULACSI Industry, Technology & Infrastructure Ingrid SOETAERT Technical Policy Stefan JOANNIN Accountancy & Reporting Frédéric DELPORTE Architecture & Operations Jean-Pierre BREEDSTRAET Communication Christine VAN VLIERDEN Sustainability & Services Cinzia MISSIROLI Publications Matthew TOMLIN Specific Agreements Bertrand PIGNEUR Competence Centre Eric CORNEZ Facilities Martin VAN DER WILT Database Sarah TAYLOR Core Process with Strategic Focus Core Process Support Services Director General Committee (DGC)

41 cen-cenelec Meeting Centre 39 The CEN-CENELEC Meeting Centre, located in the CEN- CENELEC Management Centre, offers a professional environment for business meetings. The Meeting Centre team provides assistance in organising audio conferencing or bookings for additional audio, video and IT equipment, luncheons and accommodation. The virtual meeting is also possible via the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre web conference tool for CEN and CENELEC Technical Bodies (TC, SC, WG, Workshops), as well as for management or technical groups with CEN or CENELEC secretariat. CEN-CENELEC Meeting Centre Occupancy CEN-CENELEC Meeting Centre - Web Meetings Number of meetings Number of web meetings per quarter in Number of persons Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Number of web meeting attendees per quarter in Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4