UIC and CEN and CENELEC (European Standardisation Organizations) signed a Cooperation Agreement on 9 November 2018 in Brussels.
The development of an efficient, competitive and safe rail system depends on the ability of technologies, components and systems to operate across a range of boundaries. Standards are crucial to achieve this, as they set the parameters for the safe and efficient operation and maintenance of the railway system.
In this framework, the Cooperation Agreement signed on 9 November describes the role, scope, methods and means of collaboration between CEN, CENELEC and UIC, in view of ensuring an exchange of information on each other’s progress of activities and coordination on the relevant technical work. The main objective is maximising the use of available resources and avoiding duplication of work, thereby improving the cost effectiveness and competitiveness of rail transport.
Closer collaboration between CEN, CENELEC and UIC will make the best use of the extensive expertise of each organisation in the development of the standards or international railway solutions (IRS) needed for all aspects of the railway system. The Cooperation Agreement directly responds to the wishes of stakeholders represented in both organisations and will bring about real change in the rail sector.
Representatives of each organisation will lead the joint work. In particular, a Strategic Liaison Group (SLG) will be established. One of its first tasks will be the development of a modus operandi related to the development and maintenance of CEN and CENELEC standards and UIC publications (leaflets and IRS), as well as the preparation of a work programme that is of mutual interest to the three organisations.
UIC will continue to be involved in the Sector Forum Rail (JPC Rail). This CEN, CENELEC, ETSI forum coordinates, at European level, the standardisation activities in the field of railways. The CEN/TC 256 ’Railway Applications’ and the CENELEC/TC 9X ’Electrical and electronic applications for railways’ are the two technical committees developing railway standards at European level.
The Cooperation Agreement has been signed by Mr Jean-Pierre Loubinoux, UIC Director General and by Mrs Elena Santiago, Director General of CEN and CENELEC in the presence of Mr Simon Fletcher, UIC Standardisation Director, Mr Thierry Legrand, Customer Service Specialist – Mobility (CEN-CENELEC) and Mrs Celia LEVY, UIC Head of Standards Programming.
CEN and CENELEC
CEN (European Committee for Standardization) and CENELEC (European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization) are recognised by the European Union (EU) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) as European Standardization Organizations responsible for developing standards at European level. These standards set out specifications and procedures in relation to a wide range of materials, processes, products and services.
The members of CEN and CENELEC are the National Standardization Bodies and National Electrotechnical Committees of 34 European countries. European Standards (ENs) and other standardisation deliverables adopted by CEN and CENELEC, are accepted and recognised in all of these countries.
European Standards (ENs) contribute to enhancing safety, improving quality, facilitating cross-border trade and strengthening the European Single Market. They are developed through a process of collaboration among experts nominated by business and industry, research institutes, consumer and environmental organizations, trade unions and other stakeholders.
CEN and CENELEC work to promote the international alignment of standards in the framework of technical cooperation agreements with ISO (International Organization for Standardization) and the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission).
CEN website: www.cen.eu
CEN-CENELEC website: www.cencenelec.eu
