European Standardization

EUROPEAN STANDARDIZATION OPERATORS

European Standards (EN) and standardization documents are prepared by 3 organizations:

CEN – European Committee for Standardization

The European Committee for Standardization – CEN (www.cen.eu) has a mission to foster and promote voluntary standardization within Europe and to link the European standardization with the international standardization.

Harmonization reduces barriers to trade and raises the level of safety as well as improves the interchangeability and compatibility of products, systems, and services.

CEN prepares the European Standards (EN) and standardization documents in all areas of standardization except the electrotechnical and telecommunications fields.

CEN's work is based on openness and transparency (all national bodies are bound to ensure that their delegations represent in a balanced manner the opinions of all stakeholders), consensus (agreements between the interested parties), national representation (formally, ENs are adopted by the majority vote of the National Members).

CENELEC/CLC - European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization

The European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (www.cenelec.org) was created in 1973 as a non-profit technical organization set up under Belgian law.

CENELEC members have been working together in the interests of European harmonization since the 1950s, creating European standards (EN) and other standardization documents.

CENELEC works with 15,000 technical experts from 31 European countries, who prepare, adopt and issue standards requested by the European market and harmonized standards in support of the New Approach Directives. The procedures of operation and adoption of standards are similar to those in CEN.

ETSI – European Telecommunications Standards Institute

The European Telecommunications Standards Institute – ETSI (www.etsi.org) is a not-for-profit organization, which produces standards in the area of telecommunications for application throughout Europe and also worldwide. It is based in Southern France, in Sophia Antipolis Technology Park.

Currently, the organization has 912 members from 54 European as well as non-European countries. In addition to national organizations, also manufacturers, operators, researchers, and telecommunication service users participate as members. ETSI’s standardization work is closely related to the needs of its members and with the requirements of the market.

As the representative of Europe, ETSI also plays an important role in the development and preparation of standards and other technical documentation for the area of telecommunications and information technology at a global scale and supports global harmonization. ETSI is officially recognized by both the European Commission and the EFTA Secretariat.