Alfredo Berges, President of the Spanish Association for Standardization, UNE, met on Monday 25 March with Rebeca Torró, Secretary of State for Industry of the Ministry of Industry and Tourism, at the Ministry's headquarters to strengthen Spanish industrial competitiveness.
During the meeting, Alfredo Berges told Rebeca Torró about the important work carried out by UNE as a clear example of successful public-private collaboration and its contribution to the quality and safety of the Spanish productive and industrial sectors.
Berges recalled that standardisation is a tool that helps companies be more competitive. It facilitates exports, innovation, compliance with legislation, digitalisation, ecological transition... in short, it allows companies to anticipate market developments and to gain access to international knowledge.
Among other actions, the Secretary of State was informed of the work carried out by UNE's Market Surveillance Observatory to raise awareness of the importance of compliance with technical standards and laws and to prevent the marketing of unsafe products and services, which cause damage to the economy, companies and consumers, as well as unfair competition and market distortion. In addition, both parties agreed on the relevance of technical standards in public procurement, for which UNE-ENAC guide is a reference document.
The President of UNE was accompanied at the meeting by the General Director of UNE and Vice-President of ISO, Javier García, who informed the Secretary of State for Industry of Spain's leadership in global standardisation, through UNE. Several Spaniards hold positions of responsibility in the governing bodies of international and European standardisation organisations.
In addition, Spanish experts lead more than 150 presidencies and secretariats of technical bodies of ISO, IEC, CEN and CENELEC and ETSI, placing them at the global forefront in fields such as tourism, health, renewable energies, smart cities, footwear, cosmetics, heat pumps, electrical and electronic products and sustainable construction.
Javier García also highlighted the importance of technical standards for the competitiveness of the Spanish productive sector and how they provide an effective response to the major challenges facing organisations, in line with the UNE 2025 Strategy.
Agreement between UNE and the Ministry of Industry and Tourism.
UNE and the Ministry of Industry and Tourism have a collaboration agreement to promote industrial competitiveness in Spain through the development of technical standards. Through this agreement, the Ministry of Industry and Tourism contributes to the annual Spanish standardisation plan, transferring its needs for standards in support of public policies and legislation in areas of its competence.
UNE is a global organisation whose purpose is to develop technical standards or rules that contribute to shared progress of society and the creation of a safer, more sustainable and competitive world. More than 13,000 experts representing more than 250 sectors collaborate with UNE in the development of standards. UNE represents Spain in international (ISO and IEC), European (CEN and CENELEC and ETSI) and American (COPANT) standardisation bodies.
