Glossary

Each New approach directive has an "ADCO", i.e. the informal group of the national administrations in charge of the market surveillance for this directive. The ADCO group supports and complements the work of the formal committee or the working party of the directive.

ADCO group provides administrative cooperation and consistent application of surveillance. At European level, joint market surveillance campaigns are carried out and information exchanged on irregularities found.

Cutting red tape is the process of reducing unnecessary bureaucracy. The EU is committed to developing a better regulatory environment for businesses - one that is simple, understandable, effective and enforceable. Cutting red tape should help business people and entrepreneurs improve competitiveness, as well as contribute to sustainable development.

The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) is one of the three European Stanadrdisation Organisations (ESOs). A business facilitator in Europe, removing trade barriers for European industry and consumers. Its mission is to foster the European economy in global trading, supporting regulation where it has technical aspects, the welfare of European citizens and the environment. Through its services it provides a platform for the development of European Standards and other technical specifications.

More than 60 000 technical experts and 30 member countries are involved in the CEN.

CENELEC, the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization, is one of the three European Standardisation Organisations (ESOs).

CENELEC provides the electrotechnical standards requested by the market and harmonized standards in support of European legislation (15 000 technical experts from 30 European countries).

CIRCA is a document sharing system. It is an extranet tool, developed under the European Commission IDA programme, and tuned towards Public Administrations needs. It enables a given community (e.g. committee, working group, project group etc.) geographically spread across Europe (and beyond) to maintain a private space on the Internet where they can share information, documents, participate in discussion fora and benefit from various other functionalities.

A competitive economy is an economy with a consistently high rate of productivity growth. Competitiveness depends on the performance of the economy's SME-fuelled industry. To be competitive, the EU must outperform its competitors in terms of research and innovation, information and communication technologies, entrepreneurship, competition, education and training. The Lisbon Strategy set out to make Europe the most competitive and dynamic economy in the world: competitiveness is therefore one of the top political priorities of the European Union.

The European Communications Office (ECO) was formally established on 1 July 2009 following the merger of the European Radiocommunications Office (ERO) and the European Telecommunications Office (ETO) in January 2001 and the subsequent amendment to the ERO Convention to reflect this merger.

The European Communications Office (ECO) is the permanent office of CEPT located in Copenhagen, Denmark. ECO mainly supports the Electronic Communications Committee (ECC) of the CEPT, mostly in handling radio spectrum matters.

Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) is the branch of electrical sciences which studies the unintentional generation, propagation and reception of electromagnetic energy with reference to the unwanted effects (Electromagnetic interference, or EMI) that such energy may induce. The goal of EMC is the correct operation, in the same electromagnetic environment, of different equipment which use electromagnetic phenomena, and the avoidance of any interference effects.

The Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive 2004/108/EC lays down requirements in order to preventing electrical and electronic equipment from generating or being affected by electromagnetic disturbances.

The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) is one of the three European Standardisation Organisations (ESOs). Based in Sophia Antipolis - a high tech research park in southern France - ETSI unites 789 members from 52 countries inside and outside Europe, and represents administrations, network operators, manufacturers, service providers, research bodies and users.

One "Harmonised standard" is a standard used for implementing a given Directive. It translates in precise technical terms the Directive essential requirements.

A European standard, adopted by CEN, CENELEC or ETSI, following a mandate issued by the European Commission after consultation of Member States enters into force as a "Harmonised standard" when it is referenced as such in the OJEU. They are developed through an open and transparent process, built on consensus between all interested parties.

Compliance with harmonised standards provides presumption of conformity to the corresponding essential requirements of the EU new approach Directives. Compliance with harmonised standards remains voluntary, and manufacturers are free to choose any other technical solution that provides compliance with the essential requirements.

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the world's global standardisation organization that prepares and publishes International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies collectively known as "electrotechnology".

The IEC also manages conformity assessment systems that certify that equipment, systems or components conform to its International Standards.

ICTs include any communication device or application, encompassing: radio, television, cellular phones, computer and network hardware and software, satellite systems and so on, as well as the various services and applications associated with them, such as videoconferencing and distance learning.

ICTs are rapidly changing global production, work and business methods and trade and consumption patterns in and between enterprises and consumers. ICT enables a radical change in structures of organisations and means of learning, researching, developing, producing, marketing, distributing and servicing digital and traditional goods and services. It also has a great potential to enhance the quality of life.

ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is the world's largest developer and publisher of International Standards other than electrotechnical or telecommunication ones.

ISO is a network of the national standards institutes of 162 countries, based in Geneva.

Therefore, ISO enables a consensus to be reached on solutions that meet both the requirements of business and the broader needs of society.

ITU, based in Geneva, is the United Nations agency for information and communication technology issues. It associates governments and the private sector in helping the deployment of telecommunication networks and services. It has 191 Member States and more than 700 Sector Members and Associates. ITU also organizes worldwide and regional exhibitions and forums, bringing together all stakeholders and in particular the developing world.

Activities range from broadband Internet to latest-generation wireless technologies, from aeronautical and maritime navigation to radio astronomy and satellite-based meteorology, from convergence in fixed-mobile phone, Internet access, data, voice and TV broadcasting to next-generation networks.

In order to achieve the Single market for goods, a Resolution of 7th May 1985 of the European Council formally endorsed the principle of reference to European standards within the relevant European regulatory work (Directives), thereby paving the way to a New Approach in the philosophy of regulations and standards in Europe.

Since then, the New Approach and the European standardisation have contributed significantly to the development of the Single Market. The success of the European standardisation system, in removing technical barriers to trade, has played a vital role in ensuring the free movement of goods between Member States.

Nando (New Approach Notified and Designated Organisations) Information System

Notification is an act whereby a Member State informs the Commission and the other Member States that a body, which fulfils the relevant requirements, has been designated to carry out conformity assessment for goods according to a given directive. Notification of Notified Bodies and their withdrawal are the responsibility of the notifying Member State.

Lists of Notified Bodies can be searched on the NANDO web site. The lists include the identification number of each notified body as well as the tasks for which it has been notified, and are subject to regular update.

Notified Body is a semi-official or private technical orgnisation appointed by Member States, either for approval and monitoring of the manufacturers' quality assurance system or for direct product inspection. A Notified Body may be specialised for certain products/product categories or for certain modules.

Protocol to the Europe agreements on Conformity Assessment and acceptance of industrial products

The Europe Agreements are the basic accords governing bilateral relations between the European Communities and their Member States and each candidate country in central and eastern Europe. Under the terms of the Europe Agreements, candidate countries for EU membership should approximate their legislation to that of the Community. In the field of industrial standards and conformity assessment, the Europe Agreements aim to achieve the candidate countries' full conformity with Community technical regulations and European standardisation and conformity assessment procedures. They also envisage the conclusion of agreements on mutual recognition in these fields.

Radio Spectrum Committee: is the standing committee of the Radio Spectrum Decision 676/2002/EC. This Decision harmonises progressively the 27 national frequency plans.

The EU's single or internal market is a market where goods, services, capital and people can circulate freely. The free movement of goods principle requires that national barriers to the free movement of goods within the EU be removed. Articles 28 and 29 of the EC Treaty prohibit quantitative restrictions on imports, exports or goods in transit and all similar restrictive measures between member countries. All measures capable of hindering directly or indirectly such imports are considered to be quantitative restrictions.

According to Article 2 of the Annex to Recommendation 2003/361/EC, the category of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is made up of enterprises which employ fewer than 250 persons and which have an annual turnover not exceeding €50 million, and/or an annual balance sheet total not exceeding €43 million (see: SME definition). SMEs are the backbone of the EU economy - they represent 99 % of all enterprises in the EU. Some 23 million SMEs provide around 75 million jobs.

Standardisation is the process through which the EU aims to establish high quality criteria throughout its member countries. It is based on consensus among the various partners involved - industry, consumers and public authorities. Interoperability, i.e. the technical compatibility of complementary products, services and processes is the desired outcome. The process also involves setting up test methods and requirements for safety, health, organisational and environmental performance.

Standardisation allows SMEs to stay up to date with technology and business practices. It is a symbol of quality, recognised by customers. It is also a means of capitalising on European leadership in new markets.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) is one of five regional commissions of the United Nations.

Its major aim is to promote pan-European economic integration while it is broader that Europe with 56 countries located in the European Union, in non-EU Western and Eastern Europe, South-East Europe and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and North America. Over 70 international professional organizations and other non-governmental organizations take part in UNECE activities.

To this end, it provides analysis, policy advice and assistance to governments; it gives focus to the United Nations global mandates in the economic field, in cooperation with other global players and key stakeholders, notably the business community.