NEWS

The so-called European CSRD Directive (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive 2022/2464) has a significant impact on every business. It foresees the obligation to draw up a Sustainability Statement on their social and environmental impact for all companies whose securities are traded in regulated markets. Consequently, this requirement is not limited to large companies, but it also includes many SMEs (with the sole exception of micro-enterprises).

Last year, the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of a resolution calling on the Commission to “propose a common legal framework to ensure fair remuneration for traineeships and apprenticeships in order to avoid exploitative practices”, following a campaign by the ETUC Youth Committee (see ETUC press release of 10 November 2022). The issue of internships is now on the European Commission’s Work Programme for 2023.

The European Commission has published a new Code of Practice on standardization for researchers. The Code provides a set of recommendations to beneficiaries of public-funded research and innovation programmes on how to valorise project results through standardization. The recommendations also target universities and public research organizations, policymakers, and standard development organizations (SDOs).

The new issue of the CEN-CENELEC newsletter 'On The Spot' is out now!

The CEN-CENELC Workshop Agreement (CWA) provides a set of processes for digital services when end users are children, and, by doing so, aids in the tailoring of the services that are provided so that they are age appropriate.

On Wednesday 1 March, CEN and CENELEC’s Director General, Elena Santiago Cid, received from the hands of Maive Rute, the European Commission’s Chief Standardization Officer, the new Roadmap on hydrogen standardization. CEN and CENELEC welcome the publication of this important document and are committed to collaborating to the roll out of large-scale hydrogen solutions across the EU.

Every year, on the 21st of February, the tourism sector celebrates the International Tourist Guide Day to commemorate the foundation of the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA). The Federation was founded in 1985 with the mission to promote the skills of professional tourist guides all over the world. The motto of this year's International Tourist Guide Day is Rethinking tourism; Regenerating the profession.

CEN and CENELEC have been shocked by the devastation and terrible loss of life from the earthquake that hit Türkiye and Syria last 6 February. On behalf of all the CEN and CENELEC community, we express our solidarity with all those in the region who suffered because of this disaster and with all citizens who have lost so much at this tragic time.

Small Business Standards (SBS) published a guide on blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) to raise SMEs’ awareness and assist them in mastering the use of blockchain technology.

This Valentine’s Day, CEN and CENELEC celebrate 30 years of the Single Market by looking at the European standards that bring us love and connection.