> Trade barriers between where?
>
> One of the benefit of the CE mark is free trade. This is between the member 
> nations though.
>   
But it also means that a manufacturer anywhere can target the EU as a 
whole rather than targeting each european country individually.
> I think that we will see more and more standards that are harmonized globally. 
> This may take a long time but I don't see why different countries needs to have 
> different requirements regrading safety, emc, ex, environment and so on. 
Because different countries may have different opinions on what level of 
danger/pollution/whatever is acceptable.


There is also the historic issues, for example most people would agree 
that we would be better off with one type of mains plug/socket for each 
voltage (and prefferablly with provision for a universal plug too for 
applicances with a input that supports a wide voltage range) but how to 
get there in a way that is both economical and safe is a difficult 
problem. Europe already has a pretty horrible mess with plugs and 
sockets where there are many combinations that will mate but not give 
correct earthing.

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