I – Background
II – Creation and mode of operating of Project Committees
1– Responsibilities
2 – Establishment of Project Committees
3 – Operating
4 – Maintenance
Comparison of Role/definition, responsibilities, rights, composition, mode of working of a Project Committee and a Technical Committee

I – Background

When the Technical Board (BT) decides that CEN publications should be prepared in a new area, it usually creates a new Technical Committee (TC) with the task to establish a business plan and a programme of work and to ensure that the planned CEN publications are delivered in time and in accordance with the agreed programme of work. The TC usually creates Working Groups to draft the planned CEN publications.

However, in cases where the BT decides that only a few (e.g. two or three) CEN publications should be developed in a new area, it usually creates (by resolution) a Project Committee to prepare these publications.

Note: Project Committees are still referred to as BT Task Forces in the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations – Part 2 which are defined as follows:

A Task Force of the Technical Board (BT TF) is a technical body set up by the Technical Board with a view of undertaking a specific short term standardization task within a given target date, and is composed of a convenor and national delegations.

II – Creation and mode of operating of Project Committees

1- Responsibilities

A Project Committee follows up and ensures the achievement/delivery of the limited work programme as agreed by the BT. It decides when a draft is ready to be submitted to CEN Enquiry, Formal Vote or UAP (Unique Acceptance Procedure).

2 - Establishment of Project Committees

2.1 – When, after evaluation of a proposal for new work, the Technical Board decides that standardization work should be undertaken in a new area but that only a few (e.g. two or three) CEN publications should be developed, it can decide to create a Project Committee to prepare these publications. (See Production process 'Proposal for new work')

2.2 – Project Committees are established and dissolved by the Technical Board (by resolution) with a view to undertaking a specific short term standardization task within a given target date and are composed by national delegations appointed by CEN national members (maximum three delegates, with a head of delegation), Chairperson and Secretary. Observers are allowed to participate under the same conditions as for participation in Technical Committees. (See profile 'Technical Committee)

2.3 - Project Committees are numbered in the same sequence as CEN Technical Committees and in the order in which they are established in the CEN database. Upon dissolution of a Project Committee, its number shall not be allocated to another Project Committee or Technical Committee.

3 – Operating

Project Committees are bodies with precise title, limited scope and work programme, duly approved by the Technical Board, essentially to manage the preparation of a few CEN publications.

As for any other Technical Committee, voting rights are restricted to CEN national members (1 member/1 vote). Weighted vote is applied when necessary in accordance with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations.

Project Committees meet if deemed necessary, are encouraged to work essentially by correspondence and are disbanded once their specified task has been completed.

4 – Maintenance

Upon dissolution of the Project Committee, the CEN national member that held the Project Committee secretariat will be responsible for the organization of the regular maintenance of the standard, unless, in the meantime, another Technical Committee is relevant to assume the maintenance of the published standard.

Comparison of Role/definition, responsibilities, rights, composition, mode of working of a Project Committee and an a Technical Committee

The rights, responsibilities, composition and mode of working of a Project Committee show only small differences with those of a Technical Committee (See profile 'Technical Committee):

  References: Resolution BT 48/2006, Resolution BT 42/2007