Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012 on European Standardisation establishes a legal framework to ensure that products and services introduced to, or circulating within, the Single Market conform to essential legal requirements, particularly those pertaining to health and safety. This regulatory objective is firmly anchored in the broader public interest, which includes the protection of workers’ rights and workplace safety.
Within this framework, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) stresses the imperative of inclusiveness as a foundational principle of the European Standardisation System (ESS). Since the adoption of the Regulation, inclusiveness has been integral to the development of European standards, especially those intended to support Union legislation, by guaranteeing the balanced participation of all relevant stakeholders, such as trade unions. This approach is vital to safeguarding both the quality and legitimacy of the standards.
Looking forward, the ETUC calls for a revision of the regulation to further strengthen this inclusive approach, to ensure that technical standardisation supports not only the needs of industry, but also the broader objectives of social justice, workers’ rights, worker protection, and sustainable development.
In response to the European Commission’s Call for evidence, the ETUC has identified four key challenges the initiative seeks to address, which are inclusiveness, timely delivery of standards, increased flexibility, and global relevance, and has structured its contribution accordingly.
Read the full response here: Feedback from: ETUC (European Trade Union Confederation)