ANEC was pleased to contribute to the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO Committee)’s exchange on the “European Standardization Policy: Exchange of Views with the Commission” on 5 September 2024 at the European Parliament.
During the discussion, ANEC Deputy Director-General Chiara Giovannini expressed appreciation for IMCO's past report on the “Standardization Strategy for the Single Market.” She emphasized ANEC's commitment to ensuring that consumer interests are at the heart of the standardization process. To achieve this, ANEC believes inclusiveness should not just be an obligation of effort but one of results.
Ms Giovannini highlighted the growing role of standards in legislation such as the AI Act and Cyber Resilience Act. She stressed that European values and fundamental rights must be central to these standards.
ANEC also advocates for the involvement of public authorities in standards development, as their expertise in market surveillance can help enforce EU laws more effectively. While rapid standardization is often needed, particularly in fast-evolving sectors like ICT, safety must always come first.
Finally, ANEC underlined the importance of integrating education on standards into school curricula. Equipping the next generation with knowledge on the value of standards is essential for ensuring the continued safety and effectiveness of the standardization process.
ANEC remains confident that IMCO will continue to guarantee that the European standardization framework is equipped to protect consumers in the future.
