Movement of goods across Europe

New Approach: free movement of goods across Europe
The new scheme for technical harmonization (New Approach) was approved and implemented by the Council of the European Community in 1985.
 
The New Approach applies to all the member states of the European Economic Area (EEA) as well as the bilateral accords concluded between Switzerland and the European Union (EU) in 2001.
 
The New Approach is aimed at harmonizing technical regulations and standards so as to meet a fundamental requirement for the free movement of goods and services across Europe.
 
These are the principles of the New Approach:

• Harmonization of legal regulations is confined to the fundamental requirements specified in a directive.
• Technical specifications are laid down in harmonized European standards.
• Application of harmonized or other standards remains voluntary.
• Products and services created on the basis of harmonized standards are considered to comply with the fundamental requirements specified in the relevant directives.
• Products that conform to these fundamental requirements are labelled CE.
• For approval by the EU Council, a proposed directive requires a qualified majority.