Working Group Professional Standardization Support/Qualified support

1 ROLE/DEFINITION

Person (or a team) working for a CEN member (staff member) who provides support to a TC Working Group (WG) and in particular to its Convenor to ensure that the WG works efficiently.

This support is called

• “Qualified Support” when support is provided for the development of deliverables under a Standardization Request, in particular harmonised standards.
• “Professional Standardization Support (PSS)” for all other cases.

2 RESPONSIBILITIES

The CEN member commits to provide the necessary resources and availability of a skilled person (or team) delivering the support  to the WG.

This commitment is recorded by CCMC in GD, Projex-online and available on CEN website.

It is recommended that a service agreement be established between the WG Convenor and the CEN member assuming the support (and possibly the TC secretariat). This service agreement should be based on the Matrix of responsibilities approved by CEN/BT. The TC Secretariat, the WG Convenor and the CEN member providing support are free to discuss and agree upon assignment of tasks, with the exception of the responsibilities exclusively assigned to the TC secretary, the WG Convenor or the CEN member providing support.

The following responsibilities shall be carried out by the support (not by the WG Convenor):

• provide support to the WG Convenor about how to use the electronic platforms and ensure that they are used;
• ensure that drafts comply with CEN drafting rules (including figures);

Upon agreement with the WG Convenor, the support may be in charge of other responsibilities (see the Matrix of responsibilities and the 'Development of CEN Deliverables').

For deliverables under a Standardization Request, in particular harmonised standards, the Qualified support shall carry out the following additional responsibilities:

1. ensure that drafts comply with the specific requirements for harmonised standards and in particular the dating of normative references;
2. check if an Annex ZA is needed and provide support for its preparation;
3. ensure that the checklist for harmonised standards is filled out and that supporting documents/justifications (when relevant) are provided to TC secretariat at Enquiry and Formal Vote stages;
4. ensure that all comments from the HAS Consultant (if any) were reviewed and keep track of the disposition and resolution of those comments.

For more details see 'Drafting European standards for citation in the OJEU'

3 METHOD OF APPOINTMENT/REVIEW

Confirmation of the commitment of a CEN member to provide support is a precondition for appointing the WG Convenor and shall be part of the decision.

Acknowledged by the TC prior to the appointment of the WG Convenor for the duration of the Convenor’s term of office (i.e. appointed for a period not exceeding 6 years, successive extensions of not more than 3 years are possible).

The support can be provided by any CEN member.

The person providing support to the WG is registered as 'WG Secretary' in Projex-online and GD by CCMC.

The TC Secretary is required to bring the absence of a registered support or of a WG Secretary to the attention of CCMC.

4 MODE OF WORKING

Works in collaboration with the WG Convenor, the WG members and the TC Secretary.

The TC Secretary shall bring any problem regarding the support to the attention of their CEN BT member, who shall contact the CEN BT member of the CEN member providing support.