New EC Standardisation package confirms "SME must be closely involved in the standardisation process"

In the communication released today on “A strategic vision for European Standards: Moving forward to enhance and accelerate the sustainable growth of the European economy by 2020” (COM(2011)311/2), the European Commission acknowledged that, compared to their weight in the European economy, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are still largely underrepresented in the standard making process: Due to their limited amount of resources, only a very small number of SMEs actively participate in drafting new standards. A more balanced stakeholder participation in standardisation was therefore one of the main actions of the reform of the European standardisation system. The European Commission presented its proposals on June 1st 2011.

NORMAPME's comments:
"NORMAPME welcomes the proposed measures, in particular that a strong SME representation at European level is essential to ensure their participation in the standard developing process. NORMAPME is pleased to notice that the European Commission's proposals largely respond to the need of further support to SMEs in standardisation, especially concerning some of the issues which were put forward by NORMAPME:
- The bottom-up-approach, where standards initiatives must be market relevant
- Standards will be provided at special rates or bundled at reduced price for SMEs
- strengthening the European Associations representing SMEs,"
 
said Klaus Yongden Tillmann, NORMAPME Secretary General.

While analysing in detail the new proposals on how to shape European Standardisation for the future, NORMAPME is elaborating at the moment a a position paper in consultation with its members and other major industry associations, in order to be able to continue providing constructive input to the Commission and political decision makers. The Commission’s proposals are now passed on to the Internal Market and Consumers (IMCO) Committee of the European Parliament before being voted in the European parliament this autumn.

NORMAPME is an international non-profit association created in 1996 with the support of the European Commission, representing over 12 million European Crafts and SMEs in standardisation. Membership is open to all SME organisations and other organisations that promote SME interests.