The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) has welcomed the approval by the European Parliament of the Report on the Future of European Standardization prepared by IMCO, the Parliament's Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee. The report was approved by the European Parliament plenary in Strasbourg in October and contributes to the current debate on the need to review the European standardization system.

ETSI is one of the three European Standards Organizations formally recognized by the European Union, together with the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC).

One of the strengths of today’s European standardization system is the co-existence of two complementary models: one of national delegation used in CEN and CENELEC, and one of direct representation used in ETSI. ETSI allows for direct representation of all members in the standardization process and has dedicated positions on its Board for SMEs and users of the standards.

ETSI fully endorses the need identified for a strategic approach to European standardization, and for a revision of the current process that builds on its strengths and adapts it to today’s challenges, whilst avoiding radical change. The Institute has supported the recommendations of the European Commission's ICT White Paper: Modernising ICT Standardisation in the EU - The Way Forward, as a good starting point for the reform of European standardization. ETSI and its members fully understand the importance of standards in fostering innovation, and commit themselves to playing a leading role in the reform process.