AGE priorities on standardisation

In 2014, AGE work on standardisation will focus on three areas: Design for All, ICT and transport.

Priorities

1. Design for All (DG Justice)
In September 2010, the European Commission issued a standardisation mandate (M-473) to CEN, CENELEC and ETSI to include “Design for all” in relevant standardisation initiatives. This mandate was prepared by DG Justice (Unit responsible for the rights of people with disabilities)and should be released in the first quarter of 2014.

AGE participates in the SAGA group – the Strategic Advisory Group on Accessibility, which aims at advising on the preparation of the standard (deliverables and working programme).
The technical work to develop the standard itself should start in 2014, and different experts, including older people’s representatives, will have the possibility to contribute to the different work packages.

2. ICT (DG Connect)
In March 2012, the European Commission set up the Multi-Stakeholder Platform on ICT Standardisation to get advice on the European ICT standardisation policy, the ICT standardisation work programme, possible standardisation mandates, technical specifications in the field of ICT, potential cooperations between standards development organisations and European standardisation bodies, and other initiatives that may be taken at European level to address barriers to ICT interoperability. The Platform is composed of Member States, EFTA countries representatives, standards setting organizations representatives, the Industry sector and other stakeholders such as ANEC, EDF (European Disability Forum) and AGE.

AGE participates in the meetings of the Platform four times per year. Via the Platform, in 2013 AGE also contributed to the Rolling Plan on ICT Standardisation, a multi-annual overview of the needs for ICT standardisation activities to be undertaken in support of the EU policy activities. These tasks will continue in 2014.

3. Transport (DG MOVE)
The Lille-based European Railway Agency (ERA) is running the working group on the revision of the so-called Technical Specification of Interoperability – Persons with reduced mobility (TSI PRM). The group includes the majority of the national safety agencies for railway, railway companies, industries providing coaches and other rolling stock material, and societal stakeholders such as the European Passenger Forum, the European Disability Forum and AGE.

From beginning 2011, two experts from AGE have participated in the working group: Peter Rayner (UK) and Frans Moltzer (NL).

Responsible staff member: Alice Sinigaglia, alice.sinigaglia@age-platform.eu

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