International-standardisation – the European rail supply industrys position

The paper addresses the strategic importance of European and global standards for industry. In recent months there has been a strong push by China and others to define more and more new global railway standards. At the European level the most advanced set of railway standards globally are already in place, managed by CEN and CENELEC. However, at the global level (ISO/IEC) European delegates often lack the necessary unity and pro-active engagement to react effectively to the new standardisation initiatives by China. In its new paper UNIFE is proposing important steps to maintain the European influence on the definition of global standards.