Standardisation

Fundamental aims of the European Community (EC, formerly EEC) were from the beginning (Roman contracts from 1957) the so called four liberties, i.e. the freedom of commodities, persons, capital and services. To be able to reach the aim of free merchandize circulation, certain measures had to be taken to reduce existing trade barriers and to prevent new ones from forming. Also European politics in the area of technical harmonization were to be promoted.

As already the founding members were of the opinion that this aim could neither be achieved by voluntary actions of the member states nor by judgments of the European court of justice, they allocated legislative power to the EU commission or respectively the EU council from the beginning.

Additionally, for over a decade now, the European parliament has an extended right of say, so that today, the council and the European parliament have to come to a mutual agreement. The sole right of suggestion regarding directives and regulations is in the hands of the EU commission, in particular insofar as it pertains to working safety and working protection as it is laid down in article 137 and to the so called EU machinery directive in article 95.

For further details on CECOF's activities in standardisation work (CEN/TC 186, ISO/TC 244, IEC/TC 27) please download the presentation.