EEA EFTA States call for systematic impact assessment of revised Measuring Instruments Directive to safeguard competition, security and green transition

Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are calling for a systematic impact assessment of the revised Measuring Instruments Directive (MID) ahead of its adoption in the European Parliament and Council. In a joint EEA EFTA Comment, they caution against the possible economic, environmental, regulatory and security repercussions of the proposal.

The MID from 2004 sets requirements for measuring instruments such as water meters to ensure accurate measurements and transparency, as well as fairness in trade, consumer transactions and industry. In 2024, the Commission proposed a revision covering new measuring instruments such as electric vehicle (EV) supply equipment.

Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway support the EU’s efforts to update the MID to reflect technological advancements strengthening the Internal Market. They believe that accurate measuring instruments are key to building trust between manufacturers and consumers, but caution against overregulation. They emphasise that public trust is not best achieved through detailed and stringent regulation, but through future-proof, function-based rules that support effective technical solutions.

As early adopters of EVs, the EEA EFTA States are concerned about the proposed expansion of the MID’s scope to entire EV charging stations instead of just their measuring functions. This change could increase the design, approval and operation costs of charging stations across Europe, hitting smaller and medium-sized manufacturers hardest. In turn, less competition risks stalling innovation and delaying the transition from fossil-fuelled vehicles to EVs.

In their comment, the EEA EFTA States further underline that making data communication to and from smart meters available could pose serious cybersecurity threats. They believe that responsibility for overseeing communication to and from these meters should stay with the relevant national authorities.

To ensure that the revised MID does not impede competition, stall innovation, delay the green transition or create security hazards, the EEA EFTA States call for a systematic impact analysis to assess the economic, environmental, regulatory and security consequences of the proposal before its adoption by the co-legislators.

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