On 11 and 12 June 2025, ANEC celebrated its 30th anniversary and held its 36th General Assembly in Brussels, bringing together members, stakeholders and partners to reflect on achievements and shape the way forward.
#ANEC30 – Celebrating the Journey
The event on 11 June began with a welcome and presentation of the ANEC Annual Review 2024/2025 by President Dermott Jewell. MEP Anna Cavazzini, Chair of the IMCO Committee, delivered a keynote address on the importance of consumer representation in standardization, followed by a fireside chat with the ANEC President and the ANEC Director-General, Stephen Russell.
A panel discussion, moderated by Deputy Director-General Chiara Giovannini, featured contributions from Elena Santiago (CEN-CENELEC), Martin Michelot (TIC Council), Maurits-Jan Prinz (DG GROW), Agustín Reyna (BEUC) and Lars Vogt (Toy Industries Europe). The discussion explored the effectiveness of current consumer protection frameworks in standardization, the barriers to stronger consumer representation, and the steps needed to improve inclusiveness and impact in future standards policy.
The ANEC Director-General concluded the session. The day ended with a networking reception, including a video message from Commissioner Michael McGrath and an address by EFTA Deputy Secretary-General Knut Hermansen.
36th General Assembly – 12 June
The General Assembly on 12 June focused on governance matters, including the adoption of the 2024 accounts and the 2025 budget. Andrea Raffaelli from Small Business Standards gave a presentation on national best practices for improving inclusiveness in standardization, following on from the work of the EC High-Level Forum on Standardization Workstream 3.
The ANEC Secretariat provided updates on current initiatives, previewed the forthcoming redesign of the ANEC website, and invited nominations for new experts. Sector coordinators shared developments across key areas, including child safety, accessibility, digital society, sustainability and mobility.
ANEC also proudly unveiled “30 Testimonials to Celebrate 30 Years” – a special publication featuring reflections from individuals who have played a significant role in ANEC’s journey, from founding contributors to long-standing partners and supporters. ANEC warmly thanks all those who contributed, including CEN and CENELEC, for their continued support and collaboration.
