Brussels (17 November 2009) - The CENELEC 49^th Extraordinary General Assembly, held on 16 November 2009, made a number of important decisions which have a major impact on the future of European Standardization, addressing the direction, governance and expansion of CENELEC. 

New Administrative Board

The 49^th Extraordinary General Assembly elected Dr Bernhard THIES as a member of CENELEC’s Administrative Board with immediate effect for a first term of office until 31 December 2010.

Dr Thies is currently the Managing Director of DKE (Deutsche Kommission Elektrotechnik Elektronik Informationstechnik im DIN und VDE) and represents German interests as a permanent delegate in the technical decision-making bodies of CENELEC and on the Standardization Management Board (SMB) of the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission).  Dr Bernhard Thies is convenor of IEC SMB SG 1 “Energy Efficiency”.

This brings the CENELEC Administrative Board, with effect from 1 January 2010, to the following composition:

Mr David DOSSETT                                                President

Mr Claude BREINING                                            Vice President Finance

Mrs Gudrun RÖGNVALDARDOTTIR                 Vice President 

Mr Carlo MASETTI                                                 Vice President

Dr Bernhard THIES                                                Board member

Mr Kenneth KULLINGER                                       Board member

Mr Gheorghe TUCU                                               Board member

Dr Tomasz SCHWEITZER                                      Board member

Mr Günter IRDINGER                                            Board member

Mr Jesper JERLANG                                               Board member

Mr Brian CUNNINGHAM                                      Board member

Mr Ivelin BUROV                                                    Board member

Mr Francis E FARRUGIA                                        Board member

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre Structure

Following the approval of the common Director General and the decision to establish a common Management Centre for CEN and CENELEC (CCMC) by the General Assembly in June 2009, a new CCMC structure, to be fully operational from 1 January 2010, has been introduced.  CCMC will constitute a key factor in improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the European Standardization System and a driver towards innovation through standardization. 

The AG’s approval of the CCMC structure, mission statement and resource will foster closer cooperation between CEN and CENELEC, will optimize synergies and capitalize on resources for the benefit of all relevant stakeholders.  These last decisions will conclude PHASE I of FLES (Future Landscape for European Standardization) and prepare the way for the implementation of FLES II – in support of a more competitive and innovative European economy.

New Member and Affiliates

The 49^th CENELEC Extraordinary Assembly approved as full member the Croatian Standard Institute (HZN) from 1 January 2010.  This brings the number of CENELEC members to 31.

The 49^th CENELEC General Assembly approved two new affiliates: the Libyan National Centre for Standardization and Metrology (LNCSM) and the Committee for Standardization of the Republic of Belarus (BELST).  Both affiliations will commence as from 1 January 2010, increasing the number of CENELEC affiliates to 11. 

These major decisions will impact positively on the future of European standardization.

For further information, please contact:

Elisabeth Brodthagen                                                       
Communication Manager

CENELEC
Tel.: 02 - 519 6890
e-mail: communication@cenelec.eu