European standards support the industrial strategy for Europe

The COVID-19 outbreak brought forward unprecedented challenges for the European economy. To foster the recovery, a collective effort will be needed to provide innovative and long-term solutions that set Europe on both a steady and sustainable path towards its future growth.

The revised EU Industrial Strategy presented on 5 May by the European Commission leads in the right direction. This document, which updates on the previous 2020 Industrial Strategy of March 2020, highlights the EU’s overarching ambitions for the transition towards climate neutrality and digital leadership, is strategic towards autonomy based on its economic and technological sovereignty, and shows resilience to potential exogeneous occurrences.

The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC), two of the three officially recognised European standardization organizations, welcome the fact that the European Commission acknowledges the significant role of standards and standard-setting in Europe in the revised Industrial Strategy  and are ready to contribute to the ambitions it presents. CEN and CENELEC are also committed to work closely with the European Commission on the definition of the new European Standardization Strategy, due for the second half of the year.

European Standards (ENs) are an effective tool for powering Europe’s recovery and central to address challenges across all the 14 ecosystems identified in the Industrial Strategy. ENs have played a crucial role in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and will continue to provide the necessary solutions Europe needs to recover and boost its economy.

As part of the wider reflection on how to better support Europe’s growth, CEN and CENELEC recently published their joint Strategy 2030. This important document, structured around five goals, guides the work of CEN, CENELEC and their 44 national Members over the next ten years, and will ensure that the European Standardization System is fit for a green and digital future.

Based on this strategic roadmap and with the awareness of the strengths of the European Standardization System, CEN and CENELEC are ready to engage with the European Commission and all stakeholders, in order to maximise the contribution of European Standards to the renaissance of Europe’s industry.

“The European Standardization System is based on a voluntary and inclusive approach, which has already shown its strength in supporting the EU’s policy objectives”, commented Elena Santiago Cid, CEN and CENELEC’s Director General. ”The standardization community is ready to contribute, in the full spirit of the New Legislative Framework, to power Europe’s industry across all sectors, in the framework of the twin digital and green transitions”.