A strategic standardisation for a stronger Single Market

Key points

The EESC:

• stresses that inclusiveness is essential for a legitimate and effective standardisation system, calling for stronger participation of SMEs, trade unions and civil society, supported by adequate funding, capacity building and simplified access;

• calls for clear safeguards to protect social dialogue, insisting that European standards must remain technical tools supporting legislation and must not regulate or interfere with workers’ rights, working conditions or collective bargaining;

• recommends stronger transparency and accessibility, including easier public access to standards, clearer governance of technical committees and an ex-ante assessment of standardisation requests to ensure compliance with fundamental rights and EU legislation;

• highlights the strategic role of standardisation in boosting the single market, competitiveness and open strategic autonomy, while urging stronger EU coordination in international standard-setting to safeguard European interests and high standards;

• advocates a more efficient and future-proof system, improving timeliness and quality while addressing emerging technologies and ensuring that standards support innovation, sustainability and high levels of protection for workers, consumers and the environment.

For more information, please contact INT secretariat.