Original text
European Commission - Press release Commission adopts proposal to accelerate standards development and improve EU competitiveness Brussels, 6 October 2026 The European Commission proposed today to modernise the European standardisation system to make it faster, increase the representation of small- and medium-sized enterprises, and better equipped to support the European Union's strategic interests. Standards are ess...
European Commission - Press release Commission adopts proposal to accelerate standards development and improve EU competitiveness Brussels, 6 October 2026 The European Commission proposed today to modernise the European standardisation system to make it faster, increase the representation of small- and medium-sized enterprises, and better equipped to support the European Union's strategic interests. Standards are essential to the functioning of the EU economy. They help ensure safety and interoperability, provide legal certainty, and enable market access across sectors ranging from clean technologies and batteries to construction products, cybersecurity and advanced manufacturing. Harmonised European standards play a central role in helping businesses demonstrate compliance with EU legislation, reducing costs and enhancing quality and consumer trust. However, the current standardisation system faces challenges in keeping pace with rapid innovation and technological developments, which necessitate the timely development of standards. The Commission is therefore proposing a revision of the existing legislation to make standards development more responsive while preserving its core strengths as a public-private partnership involving European standardisation organisations. A faster and more responsive system The proposal introduces clearer deadlines for the development of standards requested by the Commission and clarifies the use of common specifications as a targeted fallback measure. The Commission is also proposing to allow greater use of external technical specifications under defined conditions and safeguards. Furthermore, it would allow interim deliverables to support conformity. This would help innovative solutions reach the market faster while full standards are still being developed. The Commission is also proposing to let other standard development organisations contribute to technical work where urgent or highly specialised needs arise. The Commission estimates these measures would together reduce the average time needed to develop a standard from six years to four years, thus increasing the ability of the Union to shape standardisation globally while simplifying the access of businesses to the Single Market. A more inclusive and accessible system The proposal introduces provisions that strengthen the obligations for European and national standardisation organisations to ensure effective participation and representation for small- and medium-sized enterprises, civil society, academia and public authorities in the standardisation process. The proposal also introduces transparency and accountability requirements. Broader participation will help bring a wider range of expertise into the standardisation process. Following recent rulings from the European Court of Justice, the Commission proposes to codify those rules to ensure free access to standards developed under EU law through the creation of dedicated repositories thus making standards easier to access for businesses, public authorities, civil society, and citizens. A stronger and more coordinated European voice internationally Because standards play an important role in getting products on the market, jurisdictions that invest in standard-setting are more likely to see their standards adopted at the global level. Given this geopolitical importance, the proposal also contributes to stronger Union coordination in international standardisation. This will support a more coherent approach by helping promote European interests while remaining in line with WTO principles. The Commission is also proposing to create an Expert Centre on European Standardisation to ensure stronger strategic steering, better cross-policy coordination, and closer alignment between standardisation work and EU priorities. Next steps The proposed measures will now be examined by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union before their adoption and entry into force. Background European standardisation has long been a cornerstone of the Single Market, helping remove technical barriers by providing a common framework for products and services across the Union. The system is currently based on cooperation between the recognised European Standardisation Organisations ( CEN, CENELEC and ETSI ), national standardisation bodies, industry, public authorities, consumer representatives, trade unions, environmental organisations and other stakeholders. The current framework for European standardisation is set out in Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012 on European standardisation , which establishes the legal basis for the development of European standards and harmonised standards in support of Union legislation and policies. Over the past decade, the EU has taken steps to strengthen this framework, including through the 2021 Standardisation Strategy and the 2025 evaluation of Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012 . Today's proposal builds on that work by updating the governance and tools of the system so that it can continue to support innovation, competitiveness, and the Union's broader policy objectives in a rapidly evolving economic and geopolitical context. For more information Proposal for a new Standardisation Regulation Questions and answers Factsheet IP/26/2070 Quote(s): "Europe has been a global leader in standardisation for decades. We must remain one. Standards may be technical, but they are also strategic: those who set the standards shape the technologies, products and markets of tomorrow. A strong European standardisation system is therefore essential to a functioning Single Market, competitiveness, our technological sovereignty and our economic security. Europe must continue to set the rules, rather than simply follow standards designed elsewhere." Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy <@rel_link@> Press contacts: Siobhan MCGARRY (+32 2 296 47 98) Rüya PERINCEK (+32 2 299 49 03) General public inquiries: Europe Direct by phone 00 800 67 89 10 11 or by email Related media Raising of the European flag in front of the Berlaymont building to mark the anniversary of its creation
Speech Brief