Amandine Combe
Communications and Marketing Manager
European co-operation for Accreditation

Publication of the EA MLA Report 2024

The European co-operation for Accreditation (EA) published the EA Multilateral Agreement (MLA) Report, highlighting key achievements of the EA MLA, its signatories, and the peer evaluation process.

By the end of 2024, the MLA had 44 EA Member signatories, reinforcing the collective commitment to maintaining high standards and fostering mutual recognition in the realm of accreditation. Notably, Armenia’s National Accreditation Body (ARMNAB), having applied for MLA signatory status in December 2023, underwent pre-evaluation in 2024, with a final decision expected in early 2025.

While the number of signatories remains largely stable across most scopes, there has been a slight increase in key areas, such as validation and verification, proficiency testing provision, and reference material production. This growth reflects the continued importance of these sectors within the MLA framework.

Click here to download the report and here for the summary infographics.

Workshop on IT Systems for the Operation of a National Accreditation Body

Accreditation is vital in ensuring trust, quality, and compliance across all sectors, especially in the increasingly regulated sectors. The efficiency, transparency, and credibility of a National Accreditation Body (NAB) hinge not only on its technical capacity, competence, and integrity but increasingly also on the strength of its IT infrastructure.

EA organized a workshop for its NAB members to present three IT systems conceived by 3 EA National Accreditation Bodies: HAA (Croatia), TURKAK (Türkiye), and UKAS (UK). An appropriate IT system can significantly enhance the operations of a NAB by improving efficiency, transparency, traceability, reporting, and quality assurance.

Click here to read the full article.

Workshop on the Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2981 and the EUDI Wallet Certification Scheme

With support from the European Commission and the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA), EA organized on 27 February an online workshop on the Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2981 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 as regards the certification of European Digital Identity Wallets, and the State of Play regarding the EUDI Wallet certification scheme.

Joran Frik from the European Commission (DG CNECT) and Eric Vetillard (ENISA) provided insights into the certification framework and the role of NABs and Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs). The certification includes the whole of products, processes, and services that compose the EUDI Wallets.

The discussion highlighted the need for harmonized certification requirements across Member States to ensure interoperability and trust in EUDI Wallets. A key challenge remains to align national certification schemes with the future Cyber Security Act-based European certification framework while maintaining flexibility for national approaches in the transitional phase.