2 Nov. 2004

Developing common technology standards Links NSA website NATO's Standardization Agency (NSA) is enhancing co-operation and co-ordination with international and regional standards organizations in key standardization areas such as defence procurement, security and communications. A first set of technical cooperation agreements was signed on 2 November 2004 with the European Standards Committee CEN and the European Electrotechnical Standards Committee CENELEC. These two agreements shall be followed by a third one, at the end of November 2004 with the European Telecommunication Standards Institute ETSI. Discussions to have similar agreements with the American National Standards Institute ANSI and with the International Standards Organisation ISO are underway and will be finalized in 2005. These agreements are intended to further expand interoperability in several key domains, including defence procurement, security, de-mining, codification and communications. This will include mutual participation in standards’ elaboration groups, either through written contributions or exchange of experts. Representatives shall be active observers and represent the views of the technical body that appointed them. It also would provide for joint or co-operative programmes and projects of mutual benefit, including contribution of expertise on standards’ projects or in standards’ revisions.