We are in a changing economy in a global environment, with a growing need for accreditation. In 2017, the European co-operation for Accreditation agreed on “EA Strategy 2025: from Good to Great”. The objective is to strengthen all interested parties’ confidence in accreditation and develop EA into a professional, efficient service provider serving the EA Members and stakeholders.

The strategy defines 3 roles for EA:

EA’s Mission

EA Members commit to ensuring confidence in accredited conformity assessment results through the harmonized operation of accreditation activities in support of European and global economies.

It means that EA needs to:

• Define and build consistency in accreditation in Europe with the common interpretation and application of the standards used by its Members;
• Ensure transparency in the operations and results provided by its Members;
• Maintain a multilateral agreement on mutual recognition between accreditation activities and reciprocal acceptance of accredited conformity assessment services;
• Manage a peer-evaluation system consistent with international practices;
• Act as a technical resource on matters related to implementation;
• Cooperate with the European Commission and other European and international stakeholders;
• Develop accreditation criteria and guidelines supporting harmonization.

EA’s Vision

EA Members share the vision that EA shall be a reference in the world for accreditation, enabling an open and global market for competitive business and providing reassurance to consumers in a sustainable society.

To achieve its vision, EA has defined three objectives:

1. Good governance to deliver consistent and sustainable results.
2. Close cooperation with regulators and stakeholders to strengthen accreditation at European and international level.
3. Continue to develop accreditation to support innovation and growth in existing and new areas.

EA Members commit to share the EA core values to support implementation of EA Strategy and enable EA as a membership organization to speak with “one voice” and reach the strategic objectives by 2025.