SINGLE MARKET ACT

Together for new growth - 12 projects for the 2012 Single Market - The European Commission has adopted the Single Market Act, launching 12 projects with the objective of achieving a stronger Single Market, with a greener and more inclusive growth.

CEN and CENELEC, two of the three recognized European Standardization Organizations (ESOs), welcome this action plan and the 12 instruments - each with its flagship initiative - identifying the priorities to make life easier for business, citizens, consumers and workers in the Single Market.

STANDARDIZATION – A MAJOR ROLE TO PLAY

Standardization has a major role to play in assisting a well-functioning Single Market. In the past European standardization has already contributed in essential ways to remove technical barriers for businesses, to promote the spread of new technologies and to foster innovation. European standards are adopted identically by the 31 member countries of CEN and CENELEC, withdrawing national conflicting standards and therefore ensuring one standard for Europe. As an open and transparent system bringing together a wide spectrum of stakeholders, standardization is one of the tools of choice to avoid fragmentation and to facilitate the consolidation of a coherent internal market of high quality, safe, compatible, interoperable, accessible, environmental friendly and reliable products and services for the benefit of European consumers.

DEFINITION OF SERVICE STANDARDS AT EUROPEAN LEVEL

Boosting the free movement of services by facilitating the definition of services standards at European level is also the aim of CEN and CENELEC. An effective services market is of utmost importance in generating growth and jobs in Europe. When growth in the European economy was on average 2.1% per year between 1998 and 2008, the services sector was growing by 2.8% per year. Jobs in the services sector have increased by 2% per year, compared to an average of 1% for the economy as a whole. We are already working on European standards in business-related services where the need for standardization was expressed such as facility management, management and engineering consultancy or logistics.

Elena Santiago, CEN and CENELEC Director General said: “the adoption of the Single Market Act is a real driver for the strengthening of the European Standardization System. CEN and CENELEC are already working on the implementation of a 2020 European Strategy, which will certainly contribute to smart, inclusive and substantial growth and therefore reinforce our Single Market.”