Euralarm has welcomed the European Parliament’s resolution, acknowledging its significance in the 30th anniversary year of the Single Market in a new position paper.

The organisation agrees with the Parliament’s emphasis on the ESS and shares its commitment to strengthening the system.

The position paper notes the necessity of further efforts to enable the free movement of goods across Europe while increasing the competitiveness of European industry globally.

Need for flexibility and global relevance in standards

The position paper emphasises the need for globally accepted standards amid increasing technological competition.

Euralarm expresses concern that the European Commission’s focus on the regulatory aspects of harmonised standards could diminish their technological relevance and impact on global standardisation.

The organisation believes that the ESS currently lacks the necessary flexibility to address urgent needs in a rapidly evolving international context.

Challenges with current harmonised standards

Euralarm points out that the increasing demand for standards in support of EU legislation has led to bottlenecks and a backlog of candidate harmonised standards.

The organisation argues that the European Commission’s requests for the development of these standards are disproportionate and have negatively impacted the European standards’ global effectiveness and the competitiveness of the European industry.

Specific concerns in the fire safety and security sector

The position paper highlights specific challenges faced by the highly regulated fire safety and electronic security systems sector.

Due to the issues mentioned above, the sector has been unable to timely revise harmonised standards, hindering innovation and the full achievement of the Single Market.

Euralarm notes that this situation has led Member States to introduce national requirements, further eroding the technical relevance of European standards in the global arena.

Euralarm’s commitment and call for action

Euralarm expresses its commitment to continue contributing to the development and promotion of European standards.

The organisation calls for its concerns to be acknowledged and given serious consideration by the European political institutions.

Euralarm hopes that its input will help strengthen the Single Market, enhance European competitiveness, and ensure a well-functioning European Standardisation System.

IFSJ Comment

Euralarm’s position on the standardisation strategy for the Single Market reflects significant concerns within the fire safety and security industry.

The challenges highlighted in the position paper, particularly the need for more flexible and globally relevant standards, are crucial for the industry’s future. Euralarm’s stance also underscores the importance of aligning European standards with global norms to maintain competitiveness and innovation.

The issues raised by Euralarm provide valuable insights into the ongoing dialogue on standardisation and its impact on the Single Market, emphasising the need for a balanced approach that fosters both regulatory compliance and technological advancement.