NEWS
This Position Paper has been prepared by CEN and CENELEC in reply to the European Commission’s consultation on past, present and future European R&I programmes with the aim of providing input on pre-normative research needs which could contribute to shaping the strategic orientations for the Horizon Europe Strategic Plan 2025-2027.
Critical Raw Materials play an important role in today’s global economy. Minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and copper are essential components in a wide set of strategic sectors, including the net zero industry, the digital industry, aerospace, and defence sectors. For this reason, they are fundamental to ensure the long-term success of the European Union’s strategic priorities, such as the twin digital and green transitions and its strategic autonomy.
On the 16th of March, the European Commission released the proposal for the Net-Zero Industry Act. CEN and CENELEC welcome the Commission’s proposal to strengthen European Green Industry and are excited to see how standardization can continue to foster innovation in clean technologies.
On 23 January, Elena Santiago Cid, Director General of CEN and CENELEC, was invited to speak at the European Parliament during the hearing on Standardization in the Single Market held by the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO).
The new year is an opportunity to start things right. In this spirit, on 13 January, the directors of CEN and CENELEC met with the new Chief Standardization Officer of the European Commission, Maive Rute, for a strategic conversation on European Standardization. Mrs Rute was accompanied by Sophie Müller, Head of Unit, and Matthias Bergdahl, Deputy Head of Unit Standards Policy at the European Commission.
The preparations for the High-Level Forum on European Standardization officially began on 10 January 2023, with the first meeting of the Sherpa sub-group. CEN and CENELEC are proud to be sending three experts each to the Sherpa sub-group, to contribute to the coordination of the Green, Digital, and Resilient priorities which will steer the work of High-Level Forum.
On 4 October 2022, the EU Parliament voted in favour of adopting a common charger for the EU single market, through an amendment to the Radio Equipment Directive (RED), which establishes a single charging solution for small and medium size electronic devices regardless of their manufacturer. Those devices shall be equipped with USB-C receptable at the device side by 2024 to access the EU market. The same requirements will also become applicable to laptops in 2026.
In a recently published position paper, CEN (the European Committee for Standardization) and CENELEC (the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization) warmly welcome the draft “Code of Practice on Standardization for Researchers” proposed by the European Commission.
On 12 October, negotiators from the European Parliament and the Council of the EU struck a political agreement on the Amendment proposed to Regulation 1025/2012, which regulates standardization in Europe. CEN and CENELEC look forward to working together with the EU institutions to reinforce the European Standardization System.
On 4 October, the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of adopting a common charger for the EU single market. CEN and CENELEC welcome the decision and look forward to continuing to support this legislation through our standardization activities.