Reports and papers
14 October 2025
Raising the standard: How to unlock the geopolitical potential of Europe’s internal market
©Reuters/Shutterstock/SasinTipchai/Gorodenkoff
In short
- Technical standards underpin Europe’s economy and determine who leads in key sectors and global rule-setting
- China and the US use standards strategically; Europe must strengthen and accelerate its own model
- The EU’s hybrid system combines legitimacy and expertise but struggles to keep pace with geopolitical and technological change
- A faster, more coherent and internationally engaged approach can turn standardisation into a key pillar of Europe’s competitiveness and influence
Europe’s single market is not only an engine of prosperity, it is a source of geopolitical power. This report explores how standardisation, often seen as a technical field, can strengthen the EU’s competitiveness, reduce dependencies and reinforce its influence in the world. It argues that to protect Europe’s interests in an era of great power rivalry, the EU must make its system of standard-setting faster, more coherent and more strategic.
