ETSI-the European approach to standards making

In the introduction to this paper, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute is placed in the general context of standardization on the world level, the regional level and the national level. After that the structure and the activities of ETSI are described briefly, with specific emphasis on the work in the area of radio communications. Next, the main aspects of the procedures needed to arrive at European Telecommunications Standards are outlined and the complex relationship between standards and regulations is explained. Also, the relations between ETSI and the European Union and a large number of other organizations are clarified and some aspects of the ETSI arrangements on the national level are highlighted.