European standards and European standardisation deliverables: decisions of European standardisation organisations

The European Parliament adopted by 626 votes to 4, with 5 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012 as regards the decisions of European standardisation organisations concerning European standards and European standardisation deliverables.

The proposed regulation aims at strengthening the role of national standardisation bodies in the decision-making bodies of the European Standards Organisations (ESOs) when those bodies take decisions on European standards and European standardisation deliverables requested by the Commission under Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012.

The European Parliament adopted its position at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure by amending the Commission proposal.

The amending proposal, as amended, provides that, without prejudice to other advisory opinions, each European standardisation organisation will ensure that the following decisions concerning European standards and European standardisation deliverables are taken exclusively by the representatives of the national standardisation bodies in the relevant decision-making body of that organisation:

- decisions on the acceptance and refusal of standardisation requests;

- decisions on the acceptance of new work items that are needed for the fulfilment of the standardisation request; and

- decisions on the adoption, revision and withdrawal of European standards or European standardisation deliverables.

The regulation will apply from six months after its entry into force.

The amended text stressed that European standards and European standardisation deliverables play an important role for workers, consumers and the environment. In this context, it is important to ensure sound procedures and a balanced representation of relevant stakeholders’ interests, including those stakeholders representing inter-alia SMEs and environmental, social and consumer interests. The views of, and the input from, all relevant stakeholders should be taken into account in European standardisation organisations.

Participation by the national standardisation organisations of third countries in the work of the European standardisation organisations should not prevent the adoption of any decision concerning European standards and European standardisation deliverables requested by the Commission where such decision has the support of the national standardisation bodies from Member States and EEA countries only.