Financing of European standardisation

European standardisation allows industrial products to circulate freely in the European Community (EC) and enables a high level of protection for consumers and workers. The present decision implements a legal framework to provide a more explicit, more complete and more detailed basis for the financing of European standardisation. This new framework will make it possible to improve the quality, the promotion and the visibility of European standardisation activities.

ACT

Decision No 1673/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 2006 on the financing of European standardisation [Official Journal L 315 of 15.11.2006].

SUMMARY

European standardisation is a voluntary activity performed by and on behalf of parties interested in establishing standards at European level.

The financing of European standardisation focuses on the annual performance contracts between the Community and the three European standards organisations: the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN), the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation (Cenelec) and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI).

Objective

The objective of the present decision is to provide a more explicit, more complete and more detailed framework to the financing of European standardisation. This will enable the European Community to finance all the standardisation activities required to implement its policies and Community legislation.

Legal framework

Financial support for European standardisation is currently based on several acts, but these do not contain provisions that are sufficiently explicit or precise on financing conditions for European standardisation. They are:

• Directive 98/34/EC that lays down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations;
• Council Decision 87/95/EEC on standardisation in the field of information technology and telecommunications;
• a set of regulations on technical harmonisation, including the " New Approach " Directives

Financing arrangements

Under the decision, Community financing can be granted to:

• the three European standards organisations recognised by Directive 98/34/EC;
• the bodies mentioned in a basic act;
• other bodies for the implementation of the preliminary and ancillary work in connection with European standardisation.

The appropriations allocated shall be authorised each year by the budgetary authority within the limits of the financial perspectives.

Areas of financing

The present decision lays down that the EC may finance European standardisation activities in the fields of:

• the production and revision of European standards;
• preliminary or ancillary work in connection with European standardisation;
• the verification of the quality and conformity of standards, and their translation;
• the promotion and enhancement of the European standardisation system.

The appropriations authorised may also cover the administrative expenses relating to actions involving preparation, monitoring, inspection, auditing and evaluation.

RELATED ACTS

STANDARDISATION

General Guidelines for the Cooperation between CEN, Cenelec and ETSI and the European Commission and the European Free Trade Association - 28 March 2003 [Official Journal C 91 of 16.04.2003].

Council conclusions of 1 March 2002 on standardisation [Official Journal C 66 of 15.03.2002].

Council Resolution of 28 October 1999 on the role of standardisation in Europe [Official Journal C 141 of 19.05.2000].

FINANCIAL PROVISIONS

Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities [Official Journal L 248 of 16.09.2002].

Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2185/96 of 11 November 1996 concerning on-the-spot checks and inspections carried out by the Commission in order to protect the European Communities' financial interests against fraud and other irregularities [Official Journal L 292 of 15.11.1996].

Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 of 18 December 1995 on the protection of the European Communities financial interests [Official Journal L 312 of 23.12.1995].

See also

For further information, please consult:

The European Commission Enterprise Directorate-General website on standardisation.

Last updated: 14.06.2007