During this second meeting, issues relating to global challenges in the field of standardisation, the role of standardisation at national, European and international level, efficient and effective standards-setting and impact of standards were discussed. An open event with the participation of all stakeholders will be organised by the European Commission in Brussels on 14 October 2009 (World Standardisation Day). Participants will have the opportunity to react to the Panel’s draft report and recommendations.
Why EXPRESS? The ESS has served the Single Market in an excellent manner. However, in recent years new challenges have emerged and will continue to emerge in the future, influenced by globalisation and the need and the opportunity to apply standards in new areas and new policies. EXPRESS is a reality and quality check of the present ESS. Is the system entirely fit for the new challenges or are adjustments needed? EXPRESS has been asked to make recommendations to the European Commission/EFTA and national governments, and to national and European standardisation bodies.
The members of EXPRESS, nominated on their own merit, are drawn from most of the 30 EEA countries. Their background is from government, standardisation (national, European or international level), industry (large and small), academia, and stakeholder interest groups at European level (ANEC, ECOS, ETUI and NORMAPME). Guðrún Rögnvaldardóttir, director of Standards Iceland, is one of the 30 EXPRESS members. The EFTA Secretariat is an observer to the panel.
The ESS consists of the three European Standardisation Organisations CEN, CENELEC and ETSI, the national standardisation bodies in the EEA countries, as well as some stakeholder interest groups at European level. ETSI has also members at international level.
EFTA is a stakeholder in European standardisation and has been for 50 years, providing financial and political support. However, giving financial support to an activity means, of course, that EFTA has expectations as to how efficiently the contributions are used and to the deliverables from European standardisation.