CECE Technical Week – review of activities before the summer break

Mehdi Hocine (r), Peter Broertjes (l) from Machinery and Equipment Unit in DG GROWSource: CECE

The PT Noise meeting did not take place during the June Technical Week as the group already discussed the CECE feedback to the European Commission (EC) public consultation on the revision of Annex III of the Outdoor Noise Directive. The Technical Week started with the discussion on environmental files where PT Engine Emissions & Alternative Fuels reviewed recent stakeholder publications dealing with EU emission standards and alternative powertrains in decarbonization, intersecting construction equipment. Afterwards, the same PT discussed the international initiatives on emission standards presented at the 2023 JTLM meeting. PT Electrification members held an extensive exchange of views with a representative of a notified body in order to consolidate their expertise on standards and approvals. PT3R members discussed the variety of chemical-driven EU initiatives being examined by the EU co-legislators following the legislative watch provided by CECE Secretariat. PT 3R also coordinated on the follow-up work requisite to comply with Batteries and Waste Batteries Regulation in the run-up to its bringing into force.

As regards the Project Team on European Data Policy (PT Data), the cybersecurity update focused on the Cyber Resilience Act. Members were reported on the CECE advocacy actions on the file and tentative timeframe for its publication. Members’ exchange of views concerned CECE recommendations for amendments and the analysis of the latest European Parliament’s and Council’s texts. Regarding the update on Artificial Intelligence, PT Data were informed of the state of play of the trilogue phase and took stock of the position taken by co-legislators on the definitions of “AI system” and “High-risk AI”. In addition, the group was informed about the content of the provisional agreement reached on the Data Act.

During PT Machinery, members of CECE discussed the implications of the recently published Machinery Regulation in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) and deliberated on the subsequent actions to be taken by CECE. The meeting also included updates on the latest developments in European standardization policy and matters related to electrical and electronic industries. Additionally, there was a discussion on the recent initiative to revise the Product Liability Directive, covering various aspects of the New Legislative Framework.

CECE members of the PT Road Circulation engaged in a lively discussion regarding the recent proposal on the approval and market surveillance of non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) operating on public roads. The objective was to reach a consensus on CECE position on this matter and to prepare for the subsequent advocacy efforts. Additionally, the discussions focused on the technical requirements that will be included in the upcoming delegated acts endorsed by the EC.

During a tailored session of the Technical Commission meeting, Mr. Mehdi Hocine, Head of Unit for Machinery and Equipment in DG GROW (EC) and Mr. Peter Broertjes, Policy officer in the same unit, were invited to present and discuss the recently published Commission’s proposal on the approval and market surveillance of non-road mobile machinery circulating on public roads (so-called NRMM Road-Circulation proposal). Members were informed of the key characteristic of the EU type-approval procedure, including transitional periods and market surveillance. In the ensuing debate members raised specific and follow-up questions on the scope of the regulation, technical requirements and timing for the implementation of the upcoming delegated acts.

Finally, during the Technical Commission, the regulatory update focused on the trade issues and Brexit, with particular attention to the recent industry roundtables on the UKCA marking organised in the UK and Brussels by the Department of Business and Trade (DBT).

The next technical week will take place in Brussels from 25^th to 28^th September 2023.