Background
The Seconded European Standardization Expert for China (SESEC)
The Seconded European Standardization Expert for China (SESEC) project was launched in May 2006. Its general objective has been to raise awareness on the European Standardization System, values and assets in China. From the beginning, the project is supported and operated by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC) and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), as well as by the European Commission (EC) and by the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
The European standardization bodies have over 30 years experience in cooperating with their counterparts in other countries and regions to make effective referencing of technological standards in the best interest of co-regulation and progressive innovation. To intensify dialogue with key partners in strategically important regions of increasing economic importance, CEN, CENELEC, ETSI and their members decided to establish a position for a “standards attaché” in those key regions. The growing importance of the Chinese market, its size and its rate of growth made it a priority.
The first phase of the SESEC’s activities covered the period from May 2006 to June 2009. As the project successfully met Chinese and European stakeholders’ expectations, SESEC undertook another four phases since 2009:
- Phase 2: 2009 – 2012
- Phase 3: 2014 – 2017
- Phase 4: 2018 – 2022
- Phase 5: 2023 – 2025
The current phase, SESEC VI, was launched in November 2025.
The project falls under the authority and guidance of the Steering Committee—composed of one representative from CEN, CENELEC, ETSI, the EU Commission, and EFTA—who monitors and decides on corrective measures to be undertaken, as well as periodically revising the project’s sectoral priorities to fit the needs of the stakeholders.
SESEC V’s daily activities are coordinated and monitored by CEN, who acts as the project leader and ensures project implementation as agreed by the five partners.
