This Valentine’s Day, CEN and CENELEC celebrate 30 years of the Single Market by looking at the European standards that bring us love and connection.
Former President of the European Commission Jacques Delors once said that “you cannot fall in love with the Single Market”. But standards and the Single Market actually play a hidden role in fostering love of all kinds in Europe. Without the Single Market and standards, people all over the Europe would not experience the high-quality goods, efficient services, and ease of travel that they experience today.
But how do standards improve your Valentine’s Day? In many ways: for example, standards help ensure that the flowers you buy stay fresh and beautiful from field to the florists, with EN 12830:2018. If your loved ones have a sweet tooth and a heart of gold, then European Standards can satisfy their chocolate cravings without guilt by making sure the cocoa is sourced sustainably, thanks to EN ISO 34101-1:2020. For those who love luxury, EN ISO 11426:2021 provides a standard test of determining the amount of gold in jewellery. If you want to set a romantic mood, EN IEC 63128:2019 is used in the dimming of lights.
Furthermore, for those planning on making their Valentine’s Day (or any day) extra special, EN 28653:1992 can help ease worries that the engagement ring won’t fit by defining ring sizes sold all over Europe.
But beyond a single day, European standards can keep you close to your loved ones, no matter where in Europe they may be. If you decide to send a Valentine’s card, birthday card, or postcard, EN 14508:2016 helps measure the amount of time it should take for it to arrive to its destination. EN 17529:2022 establishes that data protection and privacy is implemented by design in the devices you use to communicate with your loved ones (such as your phone or computer). Travelling by rail is made more comfortable by EN 12299:2009, so, you can relax on your trips to see family, friends, and partners who live elsewhere. If instead you prefer driving, standards like EN 61851-23:2014 ensure that no matter where in Europe you’re charging your electric car, you can expect good quality charging points. One less thing to worry about on a trip to see loved ones! These are just a few examples of the many standards that foster connection in the Single Market every day of the year.
CEN and CENELEC is proud to contribute to the Single Market, helping bring European consumers together in many ways. Stay tuned to learn more about the different roles standards play in the Single Market with our 30 Years of Standards Supporting the Single Market campaign or join the conversation through the hashtag #SingleMarket30.
