91996E1906

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1906/96 by Erich Schreiner (NI) to the Commission (11 July 1996)

Subject: Multiplicity of standards in the EU

The large number of different standards in Europe places a heavy burden on European undertakings. Invitations to tender, in particular, are often based on national technical standards.

1. What action is the Commission taking in this regard?

2. How are we to assess the distortions of competition which arise from this multiplicity of standards?

3. Will the Commission take steps to introduce Europe-wide harmonization of the various technical standards? If so, when can results be expected? If not, why not?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (10 September 1996)

The Commission agrees with the view of the Honourable Member that the co-existence of divergent standards seriously affects the quality of economic integration in the Community. Since 1983, the Commission has been actively promoting European standards. The European standardization bodies are also working towards this goal.

Great progress has already been made, and the European standardization bodies (the European Committee for Standardization, the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute) are currently producing more than 1000 standards per year, i.e. more than four standards per working day. The main activities of the national standardization bodies are now also focused on European and international standardization. Once transposed into the national systems, the European standards require the withdrawal of divergent national standards, thus effectively leading to harmonization.

With regard to the drafting of new national standards, the procedures in Directive 83/189/EEC ((OJ L 109, 26.4.1983. )) enable interested parties to find out about, become involved in or request the drafting of a European standard instead of a national standard. The Commission regrets that interested parties do not make better use of the opportunities offered by the Directive.

In the field of public procurement in particular, the Commission has launched a study into the extent to which contracting authorities actually refer to the European standards. It will certainly inform the Honourable Member of the results.