The Forum is the first attempt to found a network of EMC laboratories on the European scale, involving such a variety of testing units from different countries not only from the present Member States but also from the members of the enlarged Union in the near future. Proposed thematic network of EMC laboratories will aim to enhance collaboration between European units in order to prepare laboratories in the Candidate States for the process of implementation of the EMC Directive.

With this general goal in mind, the network will pursue the following objectives:

• promotion of the EMC Directive;
• propagation of European practice and requirements;
• promotion of application of harmonised standards and clarification of related ambiguities;
• elimination of problems in the implementation of ISO/IEC 17025;
• raising awareness of the role of EMC laboratories and competent bodies;
• progress in qualifications of the operating personnel;
• promoting the use of full-compliance equipment and appropriate test set-ups;
• collection of generic knowledge related to the implementation of New Approach Directives.

In the long run, the network will considerably consolidate the efforts of the EMC laboratories on a European scale as well as support the most efficient use of their resources.
The network will include leading laboratories from the Member States, the Associated States and the Candidate States, with the former serving as the source of knowledge and expertise in the implementation of the Directive and other related measurement and testing activities. The FOR-EMC network's co-ordinator will work in close liaison with six Principal Contractors and nineteen Members from twenty European countries.

The network will make the largest impact in the SME sector as it is small and medium enterprises who have the biggest problems making their goods comply with the international standards.
Another contribution to the development of European Union policies will come as a direct result of the implementation of the EMC Directive in the Candidate States as it will support free circulation of goods across Europe.

In order to meet the objectives of the network 6 work packages have been designed. They will produce the following output:

• 4 guidebooks
• 5 workshops
• a database containing information about EMC laboratory resources
• a programme of training meetings in experienced EMC laboratories
• a series of intercomparison exercises with evaluation reports
• a web-site, an e-mailed and printed newsletter
  
  

This proposal is in response to a Dedicated Call (GROW/DC5MTI) and it strictly follows the objectives published in materials provided in support of topic v.41. Specifically, a thematic network will be formed creating conditions necessary for the efficient implementation of the EMC Directive in the Candidate States as well as allowing for permanent collaboration of calibration and testing laboratories across Europe (spanning the present and future Member States as well as Associated States).

The transfer of knowledge and expertise from the leading European laboratories, as well as the ability to gain from the experiences of successful implementation of the Directive in the Member States will strengthen national metrology, testing and conformity assessment relations in the Candidate States.

The network will also play a substantial part in the process of unification of European EMC laboratories allowing laboratories in the Candidate states use the best European practice and conform to the EU requirements in this respect.
Moreover, the intercomparison programme in immunity and emission testing will enhance quality of performance in all involved laboratories, securing their sustainable development in the future.

The thematic network proposed in this proposal directly addresses a number of issues that involve the international community at the European level. Thus, it is also the level they are best dealt with.

The network will clearly have a European dimension since it involves a number of the most advanced EMC laboratories from the Member States, some leading calibration and testing units from Associated States and a considerable representation of laboratories from the Candidate States.

The emergence of the European Added Value is guaranteed by the composition of the network which, on one hand, gathers renowned units from the Member and Associated States, equipped with the appropriate expertise and manned by experienced personnel. This secures the sources of knowledge and skill of the highest European quality. On the other hand, the network will allow appropriate distribution of this knowledge and experience in the Candidate States, where they are of foremost importance, especially now in the crucial years of the European enlargement process. The details describing how the network participants possess sufficient resources to serve its purpose and how the other proposed network members make suitable partners for their more experienced colleagues are to be found in section 7.2.

Participation of SME's in the network is bi-directional. Firstly, the laboratories themselves are quite often SME's and the network's support for their activities is of primary importance for their survival in the future single market. Secondly, the laboratories provide testing and measurement services for manufacturers of appliances that need to be checked for the EMC. The network will make the largest impact in the SME sector as it is small and medium enterprises who have the biggest problems making their goods comply with the international standards. Another contribution to the development of European Union policies will come as a direct result of the implementation of the EMC Directive in the Candidate States as it will support the free circulation of goods across Europe.

The comprehensive workshop, intercomparison and visiting programmes will turn the theoretical and cognitive achievements of the network into practical use. As metrology infrastructures in Candidate States are currently in the process of transformation in order to fulfil the needs arising from the adoption of EU technical legislation, operations of the FOR-EMC network will seriously support national industries in those countries.

In the pursuit of its goals the network will follow the guidelines recommended by the International standardisation bodies and will collaborate, when appropriate with other EC-funded projects on EMC testing.

The high-technology sector in the Candidate States is not always capable of competing with EU manufacturers due to multiplicity of national requirements for electrical and electronic instruments. The formal adoption of Council Directives in these countries is only a matter of time and both manufacturers and EMC laboratories should be properly prepared for that moment. The operations of the network will facilitate this process enabling the Candidate States to participate in the single market and the free flow of goods there.

4.2 Environment

Although the electromagnetic fields are not of primary importance in the European environmental policies, it should be stressed that implementation of the Directive reduces electromagnetic emission, which in turn reduces the amount of "electromagnetic smog" in the environment.

4.3 Quality of Life, Health and Safety of the Citizens

The implementation of the Directive has also some influence on the safety of European citizens. The equipment which fulfils the requirements of immunity test standards is certainly less susceptible to potential attacks of "electromagnetic terrorism" or accidental electromagnetic disturbances caused by electrostatic discharges, switching operations in the mains network, lightning, broadcasting, CB radio, cellular communications, etc.

Dissemination

The dissemination policy of the network will ensure that the information gathered is presently made available, using web technology so that partners will be able to contribute and the public will be able to access the information as soon as it is complete. The network web site will be created and used for dissemination of results. Materials prepared for the guidebooks and the reports from intercomparison exercises as well as the questionnaire results collected in the database will be partially available on-line (the latter also on CD-ROM). The extent to which this information will be made available to the public will be decided by the Steering Committee.

The dissemination process will be also supported by the e-mailing and printed newsletter. The paper and electronic media will also be used to exchange specific technical information and propagate the EMC testing among manufactures of new electronic devices.

5.2 Economic Growth

The network's contribution to the economic growth is mainly expected in reduction of technical barriers to trade caused by multiplicity of national requirements for electrical and electronic instruments. The level of expertise reached by laboratories in the Candidate States due to network activities should also considerably increase their competitiveness, which in some cases could influence their survival in the single market opened by the EU enlargement.

On the manufacturer side, the services provided by the EMC laboratories will grant Candidate States' enterprises access to the European market, formally securing compliance with the requirements of the Directive.

The current situation of the EMC laboratories in the Candidate States depends on the progress of legislation process in relation to the EMC Directive. In some countries, such as Romania, the Directive has already been legally adopted. In some other countries, such as the Slovak Republic, the local legislation partially follows the requirements of the Directive and it awaits amendment. Still, in other countries, such as Poland, the matters of the EMC are not legally regulated in a complex manner and separate regulations exist for separate sectors of the industry. In result, the EMC laboratories do not work to their full capacity nor generate any profit but have to prepare themselves for the enormous work following the formal adoption of the Directive.

5.3 Scientific and Technological Prospects

Although the aims of the FOR-EMC network are of practical, and not RTD nature, it is expected that the communication channels created by the network will support research and development in the EMC field. This especially applies to the development of specific testing equipment the new testing and measurement methodologies.

It is also expected that the virtual network developed by the FOR-EMC will remain active long after the end of the proposed project, with the co-ordinator declaring to maintain the electronic media operational as long as it will be possible.