NOTE: Regulation EU 1025/2012 uses the term ‘Standardization Request’ whereas since years such request from the European Commission was referred to as ‘mandate’. As both concepts still exist (e.g. already existing ‘mandates’ are still under execution), both terms are used in the text hereafter.
The drafting of the Annual Union Work Programme (AUWP) for European standardisation, as foreseen under Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012 on European standardisation, is led by the European Commission and is based on a strategic assessment of Union policy objectives and regulatory needs where European standards can support EU legislation and policy implementation. The process is informed by high‑level political and strategic input, notably through the High‑Level Forum on European Standardisation (HLF), which identifies priority areas and emerging challenges for the European standardization system, as well as by preparatory and follow‑up work carried out by the Sherpa Group, ensuring continuity between strategic orientations and technical considerations. These contributions, together with exchanges with Member States and the European Standardisation Organisations, notably via the Technical Boards (BT), feed into the identification and prioritization of areas reflected in the AUWP. Once consolidated through internal Commission coordination and formally adopted, the AUWP constitutes the key programming and reference document for Union standardization activities and generally serves as the basis for the preparation and issuance of subsequent standardization requests to the European Standardisation Organisations.
The EC is responsible for the preparation and drafting of standardization requests. This is done in line with the principles included in the Vademecum on European Standardization.
It is important to ensure that the relevant parties are included in the drafting process and consulted during the informal consultations.
While the EC sets the content and deadlines included in standardization requests, these are developed in close consultation with the European Standardization Organizations (ESOs) and other relevant stakeholders, such as Annex III organizations and member states. They can contribute all along the drafting phase. During the consultation phase close cooperation between CEN and ISO is also crucial, so as to ensure that the future work (both in terms of timeframe and in terms of content) is properly planned, thereby taking into account the provisions of the Vienna Agreement.
To ensure a prompt coordination and input by all relevant stakeholders at European and international level during the drafting of standardization requests, ‘Ad-hoc groups’ (SReqAHG) are put in place. These will see the participation of relevant technical bodies, CEN Members and ISO whenever relevant.
SReqAHGs advise the CEN Technical Board on any issue (including work to be carried out, resources, etc.) associated to the draft standardization requests and ultimately on their acceptance/rejection.
Proposed draft standardization requests are submitted to the ‘Committee on Standards’ established under Regulation 1025/2012 on European Standardization, for approval by the Members States. Once approved, they are officially transmitted to the ESOs for acceptance and execution.
Regulation 1025/2012 requires the ESOs to indicate, within one month following receipt, if they accept a given standardization request or not.
A proposal, documented with the advice of the relevant Ad Hoc Group, is submitted by correspondence to the CEN Technical Board (BT), in which an agreement among the CEN Members is sought regarding the mandate put forward by the EC and the subsequent commitment of the CEN System resources for the execution of all the elements associated with the standardization request.
NOTE: To secure the timely response to the EC, CCMC initiates the CEN/BT decision making process on acceptance based on the draft standardization request that is submitted to the Committee on Standards.
A standardization request is a legal act and is considered as a contract between the EC and CEN (possibly together with CENELEC and ETSI) and is thus binding for both parties. In particular and as a consequence, the deadlines set in the contract for the deliverables are contractually binding and are to be respected.
The outcome of the CEN/BT decision is communicated to the EC.
Standardization requests must identify the requested European deliverables, and thus also the subject matter, together with the deadlines for publication.
Where conditions for issuing a standardization requests are not yet fulfilled, the EC launches appropriate preliminary or ancillary actions (studies or equivalent) to identify the standardization needs and to be able to analyze whether the subject matter is market-relevant.
NOTE: Ancillary Actions could take the form of a letter from the EC inviting CEN to carry out some pre-normative activity. Ancillary Actions will be submitted to the attention of the CEN Technical Board via a decision by correspondence or to be taken in a meeting.
In exceptional cases a standardization request for the development of European standards or European standardization deliverables might, however, include similar preliminary and ancillary action as part of its execution.
Actions included in the Annual Union Work Programme for European Standardization that are typically associated at a later stage with Standardization Requests, as well as preliminary or ancillary activities in their support, may be eligible for financial support from the European Commission (EC) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). However, the availability of such funding shall not constitute a prerequisite for the acceptance of a Standardization Request or for the implementation of the related work.
Any requirement for financial support should be identified and communicated by the relevant Permanent Delegate to CCMC as early as possible to enable timely planning. Where such support is envisaged, the European Commission may also proactively define and promote priority topics, primarily deriving from the AUWP, through calls for proposals, which set out the objectives, scope, and requirements applicable to all topics proposed.
For the topics included in calls for funding, Members supporting the relevant Technical Bodies are guided by CCMC in preparing a detailed cost quotation, including any necessary subcontracting arrangements. The quotation is reviewed to ensure alignment between the technical scope and the financial framework before being submitted to the European Commission for evaluation and agreement. In line with standard practice, the European Commission generally covers approximately 95% of the total contribution, with the remaining 5% mirrored for EFTA.
2.1 At all stages during the development of a standard under a standardization request/mandate and/or covered by a Grant Agreement, the TC shall provide information to CCMC, which will be used to keep the EC informed
2.2 During the development of draft standards under a standardization request/mandate and/or covered by a Grant Agreement, in particular after the CEN enquiry and after the formal vote, TCs may be faced with the need:
It is not allowed to take such decision without having requested the formal opinion or agreement of the EC.
2.3 The relevant TC initiates the request as soon as the matter is raised.
This request should be sent to the Standardization Department of CCMC by using the formatted Decision stating the proposal and supported by full justification.
After obtaining BT agreement, CCMC forwards the request for advice or agreement to the EC.
2.4 The CCMC informs the TC of the position of EC for further handling.
A Grant Agreement (GA) is a legally binding contract between the European Commission, or one of its executive agencies, and the beneficiary or consortium selected to receive EU funding (or EFTA). It defines the terms and conditions governing the award of the grant, including the project's objectives, budget, implementation arrangements, and the rights and obligations of all parties involved.
Most EU-funded projects are implemented by consortia composed of organisations from different EU Member States or associated countries (NSBs i), coordinated by a designated project coordinator (CEN). Once a proposal has successfully completed the evaluation process and the grant is awarded, the Grant Agreement is signed, formally authorizing the start of the project's implementation.