On 30 August 2022, EA signed with the European Commission (EC), represented by Dr. Andreas Steinhorst (EA Executive Secretary) and Jakub Mateusz Boratynski (DG GROW Director General), the 4th Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA) for a new four-year period. The European Free Trade Association (EFTA), represented by Henri Gétaz, signed on the 16th of November a similar agreement with EA, represented by Dr. Andreas Steinhorst.

Article 14 (2) of Regulation No (EC) 765/2008 states that

“A body which is to be recognised pursuant to paragraph 1 shall conclude an agreement with the Commission. That agreement shall specify, inter alia, the detailed tasks of the body, funding provisions, and provisions for its supervision.”

Since 2010, the FPA widens and strengthens the cooperation between the European Commission, EFTA, and EA to support the development of EU policy and legislation for open and fair trade in the European market.

The objective of the FPA is to support the realization of the Action Plan 2023-2026, under which EA makes several commitments to:

  • Strengthen the EA Peer-evaluation system
  • Ensure harmonization and competence when accrediting Conformity Assessment Bodies, especially in the regulated area
  • Strengthen EA and its management
  • Enhance cooperation with regulators and stakeholders
  • Strengthen the European Quality Infrastructure
  • Enhance the role of EA at the international level

Andreas Steinhorst, EA Executive Secretary, is coming back on this long collaboration with the European Commission and EFTA:

“The fourth FPA demonstrates the excellent and successful cooperation between the parties. This collaboration is essential for the single market of goods and ensures the free movement of goods within the market and the implementation of high safety standards for consumers and the protection of the environment. The FPA also enables major collaboration in sectors like cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and sustainability for the benefit of all European citizens. Therefore, EA looks forward to the next four years of collaboration with the European Commission and EFTA.”

The realization of the Action Plan is possible thanks to the financial resources allocated to EA by the EC and EFTA under the new FPA. The balance between financial support provided by the EC, EFTA, and EA Members is an asset to fruitful and sustainable cooperation.

During the last FPA, EA produced, amongst others, the following results:

  • Implementation of more than 100 EU legislations regarding accreditation and conformity assessment so that EU citizens can have confidence in products and services;
  • 71 peer evaluations of National Accreditation Bodies, which ensures confidence in certificates and reports issued by accredited conformity assessment bodies;
  • Improvement of the peer evaluation process;
  • Enhancement of the harmonization of accreditation throughout Europe in the regulated and voluntary sectors;
  • Implementation of the CETA (Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between the EU and Canada) Protocol on the mutual recognition of conformity assessment results for the benefit of the EU and Canadian market;
  • Registration of the EA MLA mark, which demonstrates the role and value of accreditation in Europe;
  • Open the EA membership to all National Accreditation Bodies in the European region;
  • Implementation of a new EA management structure to strengthen EA’s strategic and technical activities.

More information about the relationship with the European Commission is on this page.