Brussels, 01/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 1 June, the European Commission adopted a package of measures to improve standards and the role of standards in Europe - both crucial to the proper operation of the internal market, the technical integration of which the Commission is looking to improve. This is one of the reasons why the Commission, through cooperation agreements and subsidies, is fully supporting European standard-setting organisations. The package was presented to the press by Commission Vice-President with responsibility for Industry Antonio Tajani who said that European standardisation has to face a series of challenges: - quicker adoption of European standards, with the aim of reducing the average time for adoption by 50% by 2020; - monitoring global standard setting in the area of information technology (ICT); - getting rid of the distinction between goods and services; - the ability to address environmental and social issues through the use of standards. The measures adopted by the Commission have four main objectives: - to strengthen the partnership with European standardisation organisations; - to improve the operation of the internal market; - to speed up and modernise standardisation procedures; - to incorporate global ICT standards into European policies. The most important initiatives proposed are: - more flexible, swifter development of standards, especially in innovative areas; - recognising and incorporating global ICT standards; - funding of European standards for services; - improving the input of organisations representing SMEs, environmental concerns, consumers and special interests in drafting standards. (Gp/transl.rt)