Assistant Director for Conformity Assessment Goran Tešanović participated in the regional meeting of representatives of the Quality Infrastructure (QI) institutions of the member states of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA), which took place in Albania from June 6 to 7, 2023, as part of the „EU4Business: Fostering the common regional market through quality infrastructure and e-commerce”. The program was co-financed by the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and implemented by GIZ, the Open Regional Fund for South-East Europe - Foreign Trade (ORF FT).

The aim of the meeting was to present the main findings of the assessment on the readiness of Quality Infrastructure (QI) institutions (metrology, standardization, accreditation, market surveillance) in terms of supporting conformity assessment bodies and manufacturers in the conformity assessment procedures of machines/products within the Machinery Directive. A team of international experts presented findings, shortcomings and similarities in the legislative framework, procedures and practices of the QI institutions of all CEFTA parties, including BiH, as well as recommendations on measures to strengthen their capacities to ensure compliance with relevant EU requirements and standards in the machinery/product sector which are covered by the Machinery Directive. Also, practices in the application of the Machinery Directive by EU member states were presented.

At the meeting the improved concept of the regional QI network between the CEFTA parties was discussed. Also, the EU approach on the functioning of QI networks as a necessary tool for improving cooperation, promoting, understanding and providing guidance and support for its effective implementation and international acceptance was presented.

In this context, the participants had the opportunity to discuss the identified priorities and to propose specific capacity building measures in accordance with the conclusions and recommendations from the assessment, as well as their needs in the electrical products sectors that are covered by the Low Voltage Directive, LVD, (2014/35/EU) and the Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive, EMC (2014/30/EU) and products covered by the Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC) which will be the basis for the development of an action plan for strengthening the capacity of Quality Infrastructure institutions and recognizing the results for conformity assessment of industrial products among CEFTA members -e, as well as the basis for the development of joint projects.