NEWS
It has now been confirmed that RISE and SIS will lead a European Working Group, mandated by the European Commission, to develop standards that can reduce the risk of facade-related fire disasters.
At the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2025, held in Shanghai on July 26, Dr Sebastian Hallensleben, Chair of CEN-CENELEC JTC 21, delivered a keynote on Europe’s evolving AI standardization landscape. He emphasized the critical role of harmonized standards in supporting the implementation of the EU AI Act, particularly in high-risk applications, and stressed that these standards offer legal certainty for AI developers.
Launched in January 2025, the Shared Digital Infrastructure is a Consortium of interested CEN and CENELEC Members who are offering a platform for all CEN and CENELEC Members to list services offered, wanted ads, and team up on co-development projects. There are already 11 services advertised on the platform.
Launched by Shikha Shahi, DIN Expert and Senior Standards Professional at Microsoft, the Women in ICT Standardization Coffee Chat is a quarterly virtual gathering designed to foster community and inclusion among women working in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) standardization.
On 22–23 September 2025, Timișoara became the hub of European standardization, as ASRO – the Romanian Standards Association –, together with the University of Life Sciences "King Mihai I of Romania", hosted the 10th Balkan Conference on Standardization under the theme “Research & Education – Trigger NextGen Standardization.” The two-day hybrid event gathered representatives from CEN and CENELEC, ETSI, ISO, and the national standardization bodies of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, and Slovenia, along with academic leaders, policymakers, and industry specialists.
European Commission’s Omnibus Directive ‘Aligning product legislation with the digital age’ proposes uniform alternative options to give businesses legal certainty regarding compliance with EU rules, where harmonized standards do not exist or are not available.
CEN and CENELEC support the European Commission’s efforts to harmonize criteria for issuing common specifications. However, it is critical that the process is done in a way that ensures the involvement of a broad range of stakeholders, from societal stakeholders to Member States and industry as they are the actors who will later enforce and follow specifications to gain access to the internal market.
September has arrived, and this means that for most of us, the holidays are over: adults are heading back to work, and children are getting ready for a new school year. But behind the excitement of fresh notebooks and new classrooms lies a hidden world that keeps learning safe, comfortable, and fun: European Standards.
Following the 2022 evaluation of the New Legislative Framework (NLF), the NLF, though a cornerstone of EU product legislation harmonization, was found to require modernization for the digital age and support European circular economy objectives. The 2025 Single Market Strategy further confirmed the need for this revision, alongside other legislative initiatives relating to Single Market Policy, including the standardization regulation and the Fourth Package of the Omnibus, on aligning product legislation with the digital age. During this revision, it is essential that these reviews are coordinated to ensure consistency, synergy, and simplification across the EU’s regulatory product framework.
Young professionals bring new energy, ideas, and skills to European standardization. As our society undergoes rapid transformations, their contributions are key to ensuring that standards remain relevant, forward-looking, and impactful.
Summer may be winding down, but the sunshine and good vibes are not over yet. Whether you are just back from a long-awaited holiday or squeezing in one last trip, let us take a look at all the standards that have been working quietly in the background to make sure your adventures are safe, carefree, and fun.