Memoranda of Understanding 

In order to strengthen bilateral standardization cooperation between Europe and regions outside Europe, CEN and CENELEC conclude Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with other regional standardization bodies.

The MoUs CEN and CENELEC have signed are developed on an ad hoc basis in order to fulfil the specific expectations of their respective communities and those of their counterparts, based on the reciprocity principle. They usually derive from a shared objective to use technical alignment as a pillar of intra-regional and global trade flows.

The support that CEN and CENELEC bring to ISO and IEC are always at the heart of these cooperation frameworks.

These MoUs may cover a broad range of activities, e.g. the organization of regular meetings, exchange of strategic and technical information, as well as the possibility to organize technical dialogues in relevant areas of work.

Some of the MoUs are signed jointly with European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), the third European Standardization Organization.

Access the list of all MoUs.

Objectives

The objectives of this partnership are to:

  • promote the use of international standards as a privileged means for market integration and trade facilitation, at regional level, bilaterally and globally;
  • share knowledge and exchange best practices regarding standardization;
  • contribute to the removal of technical barriers to trade and enhance the competitiveness of economic operators in the partners’ respective regions;
  • promote the key principles of the European standardization model including its unique linkage with legislation (the so-called “New Approach” concept), based on the EU Single Market success story

Benefits

What can you benefit from signing an MoU?

 

Regional standardization bodies interested in signing an MoU with CEN and/or CENELEC may enjoy the following benefits:

  • learn about the latest standardization-related policy, strategic and technical developments in Europe;
  • participate in the General Assembly meetings of CEN and/or CENELEC (as applicable) and connect with leading stakeholders;
  • exchange strategic and technical standardization information with CEN and CENELEC, organize study visits in Europe;
  • adopt European Standards.