EU proposes faster standards development and free access

The European Commission has proposed replacing Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012 to make European and harmonized standards quicker to develop, more accessible and more representative of affected stakeholders. The Commission estimates that the measures could reduce the average time needed to develop a standard from six years to four. The proposal is not yet in force and must undergo examination by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union.

The draft would introduce clearer deadlines for Commission-requested standards, clarify common specifications as a targeted fallback and allow greater use of external technical specifications under defined safeguards. Interim deliverables could support conformity while full standards are developed, while other standards-development organizations could contribute urgent or specialized technical work. Dedicated repositories would provide free access to standards developed under EU law. Stronger participation obligations would cover small and medium-sized enterprises, civil society, academia and public authorities, alongside additional transparency and accountability requirements.

An Expert Centre on European Standardization would improve strategic coordination and strengthen the EU’s international standard-setting role. The changes would affect organizations using standards to demonstrate regulatory conformity, including teams working on AI, cybersecurity and embedded products. Relevant requirements include risk management, governance, product safety and interoperability. The final legislation and implementation measures will determine when any changes apply.