European Standardisation Package (Consultation)

The Commission is reviewing the European standardisation procedures in terms of their efficiency and transparency. The aim is to develop a reform proposal (“standardisation package”) facilitating a more efficient and transparent European standardisation. Moreover, the Commission wishes to simplify the access to standards for SME and to increase the capacity for innovation of European enterprises.

cepPolicyBrief

The options proposed for the implementation of the objectives are vague and only partly target-oriented. The major part of the proposals are even critical from an ordoliberal standpoint. It is particularly problematic that the Commission and national governments are to gain the ability to influence financial and human resources decisions which hitherto have been exclusively subject to the standardisation work of national institutes in the private economy sector. There is a fundamental risk that standards might be misused for industrial policy purposes.