Opening Remarks

Angelika Niebler MEP underlined that standardisation is a strategic pillar for European competitiveness, innovation, and regulatory coherence. She stressed that those who set standards shape markets and global influence, warning that Europe risks falling behind if it does not remain in the lead. She emphasised the importance of harmonised standards for the free movement of goods and services and highlighted Europe’s tradition of combining technical excellence with societal and environmental considerations. MEP Niebler also warned that current processes are often too slow and called for greater speed and efficiency in standard setting. She invited reflection on the respective roles of the public and private sectors in driving future standardisation efforts .

The Commission’s view

Guillaume Roty outlined the Commission’s plans to revise the standardisation framework as part of a broader European Product Act package expected in 2026. He explained that the objective was to strengthen competitiveness, strategic autonomy, and effective enforcement across the single market by addressing the full regulatory lifecycle of products. He identified responsiveness, legal clarity following recent Court of Justice rulings, and stronger international influence as the main priorities for reform. Mr Roty presented several options to accelerate standard delivery, including better planning, digitalisation, reuse of existing standards, and limited alternatives such as common specifications. He stressed that any reform must preserve incentives for participation and maintain the inclusiveness and credibility of the European standardisation system .

Expert perspectives

Omar Dhaher emphasised that standardisation is a cornerstone of European competitiveness and global influence, particularly through international cooperation. He argued that Europe’s success has been built on an international first principle and a strong public private partnership that should be preserved. He warned that delays in citing harmonised standards are undermining industry engagement and weakening Europe’s ability to influence global markets. He cautioned against protectionist approaches and called for sustainable solutions to improve access to standards while maintaining incentives for experts and industry participation. He urged policymakers to address common specifications within the revision of the standardisation regulation rather than through parallel initiatives .

Martin Chatel highlighted ETSI’s role as both a European and global standard development organisation, stressing that the existing system already delivers fast and internationally recognised digital standards. He argued that reform efforts should focus on fixing process bottlenecks, particularly delays in the citation of standards, rather than redesigning the system. He emphasised the value of direct industry participation, early anticipation of standardisation needs, and stronger alignment with legislative timelines. He cautioned against expanding the scope of reform beyond the Commission’s identified challenges and called for greater reliance on existing European standardisation deliverables. He stressed that Europe already has effective tools to lead globally if they are better leveraged.

Andreea Gulacsi stressed the importance of preserving the core principles of the European standardisation system while adapting it to faster technological and market developments. She highlighted the need for greater investment in standardisation as a strategic asset and for stronger cooperation with other standard development organisations. She pointed to ongoing work on more agile and faster deliverables to support innovation and market uptake. Ms Gulacsi emphasised the importance of prioritising areas where Europe should lead internationally and strengthening coordination with ISO and IEC. She also underlined the role of standardisation within a coherent European quality infrastructure alongside certification, accreditation, and market surveillance.

First respondents

Dr. Stefanie Vehring highlighted the central role of standards for testing, inspection, certification, and conformity assessment across sectors. She stressed that consensus based standardisation is a key strength of the European system, while acknowledging the inherent tension between consensus and speed. She argued for greater flexibility in the use of different standardisation deliverables and conformity pathways, particularly beyond traditional product based regulation. Ms Vehring noted that reducing delays in citation could help balance assurance, transparency, and responsiveness. She supported widening the perspective on how standards can support compliance in emerging and non product focused policy areas.

Marion Lange emphasised that European standardisation is built on a shared public private effort and should be further developed through co creation rather than structural overhaul. She highlighted the experience of national standardisation bodies in ensuring inclusiveness, particularly for SMEs and consumers, and presented these as models that could be scaled at European level. She cautioned against public procurement and common specifications as substitutes for standardisation, arguing they risk undermining global leadership. Ms Lange stressed the importance of trust in the existing system and highlighted Europe’s strong position in international standardisation governance. She called for building on existing strengths rather than rebuilding the system from scratch .