Vienna & Frankfurt Agreements
Vienna Agreement
Between International Standardization Organisation (ISO) and European Committee for Standardization (CEN)
The Vienna Agreement between International Standardization Organisation (ISO) and CEN are landmark cooperation frameworks that align European standards with international ones. Its main goal is to avoid duplication, ensure consistency, and promote global trade by developing common standards wherever possible.
The Agreement on technical cooperation between ISO and CEN was formally approved on 27 June 1991 in Vienna by the CEN Administrative Board following its approval by the ISO Executive Board.
The main objective of the Vienna Agreement is
- Optimisation of resources available for standardization.
- Exchange of Information between ISO and CEN and increases the transparency of CEN work to ISO members.
- Avoid duplication of work at the regional or international level.
- Promote global harmonization
- Reduce Technical Barriers to Trade
The Agreement emphasizes that international standards take precedence over national ones. When an International Standard is adopted as a European Standard, it automatically becomes a national standard in all CEN member countries, which must withdraw any conflicting national standards.
However, the Agreement also recognizes that the Single European Market may have needs, for example:
- standards for which there is no international need currently recognized.
- standards which are required urgently in the European Union, but which have a lower priority at the international level.
In these cases, the Agreement therefore permits ISO committees to request that work being carried out within CEN, which answers the specific needs of the Single European Market, be made available for voting and comment by all ISO member bodies at the enquiry and formal approval stages. This allows non‐European ISO members to influence the content of European Standards and where appropriate to approve those standards as International Standards.
Frankfurt Agreement
Between International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) –European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC)
The Frankfurt Agreement is a key framework for cooperation between the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC). It was signed on October 14, 2016, during the annual IEC General Meeting held in Frankfurt, Germany.
The Agreement concerns the adoption of International Standards as European Standards. Other deliverables, i.e. Technical Specifications and Technical Reports are not part of the agreement. The foundation for IEC–CENELEC cooperation was first laid through the Dresden Agreement in 1996.
This collaboration has resulted in substantial harmonization—approximately 80% of all European electrotechnical standards became identical to or based on IEC International Standards.
The Frankfurt Agreement serves as a comprehensive framework to promote efficiency, transparency, and coherence in electrotechnical standardization. Its main objectives are:
- To reinforce cooperation between IEC and CENELEC in developing electrotechnical standards.
- To promote the adoption of IEC International Standards as European Standards (ENs).
- To avoid duplication of work and ensure efficient use of resources among technical committees.
- To enhance global trade and innovation by harmonizing international and European standards.
By aligning technical standards across regions, the agreement helps industry, regulators, and consumers benefit from safer, more reliable, and compatible products and systems.
Mainly the work is developed by IEC and adopted through parallel procedure at CENELEC level. In some cases, work is initiated by CENELEC and offered to IEC, either as a European Work Item (EWI) or as a published European Standard.
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