ETSI’s legitimacy as an ESO in times of crisis: commentary on Volpato and Eliantonio, Temple and De Vries

Abstract

This commentary reflects on the contributions by Volpato and Eliantonio, Temple and De Vries, which focus on the important question of the legitimacy of ETSI’s governance. The authors discuss different concepts of legitimacy, confirming its multifaceted character. The commentary sheds light on their relevance to discussions about ETSI's responses and adaptations to the European Union’s demands and expectations set out in the European Union Standardization Strategy. This commentary contributes to this discussion by offering a dynamic account of legitimacy and illuminates how legitimacy demands and dynamics manifest in decision-making processes within ETSI. ETSI only to a certain degree has ceased the opportunity presented by the Standardization Strategy to increase its legitimacy by enhancing its responsiveness to societal stakeholders. Questions are raised for further research about ETSI’s autonomy, the consequences of current and ongoing decision-making for ETSI’s legitimacy, as perceived by the European Commission and other stakeholders, and ETSI’s relative influence and authority in the wider standardization field. It is argued that ETSI's upholding of European values, including respect for human rights, should be a measure of ETSI's legitimacy and rulemaking influence as a European standardization organization within Europe, and globally.