NEWS
Europe faces growing geopolitical pressures and a rapidly evolving defence landscape. To build a resilient and competitive European defence sector, standardization must be integrated early and systematically into defence policy, planning, procurement, and capability development.
The war in Ukraine has made defence a top priority for Europe. Numerous policies focus on increasing European defence capabilities through greater cooperation and coordination of national defence forces, developing measures for interoperability, joint procurement, reducing industrial fragmentation, and strengthening supply chains.
The current lack of a dedicated, strategic framework for European defence standardization is an important opportunity to engage defence stakeholders and ensure standardization is focused on meeting their urgent and long-term needs.
The three European Standardization Organizations – CEN, CENELEC and ETSI – have created a consortium to respond to a call under the Single Market Programme Standardization aimed at Reinforcing the European Standardization System through Education and addressing the need for skilled experts in standardization.
On Thursday, February 5, the Seconded European Standardization Expert for China (SESEC) organized the 2026 EU–China Standardization Roundtable and New Year Reception in Beijing. Benjamin de Ville, representing CEN and CENELEC and the Joint Technical Committee 24 ‘Digital Product Passport’, presented the EU Digital Product Passport Standardization Developments to the audience.
CEN and CENELEC are pleased to announce that the Work Programme 2026 has been published. The Work Programme is one of the flagship publications of CEN and CENELEC; it outlines the key priorities and actions that will shape European standardization in the year ahead.
On 4 February 2026, the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC) and the Japanese Industrial Standards Committee (JISC ) signed an agreement to increase their alignment on key standardization topics. JISC will now become a CENELEC Companion Standardization Body (CSB).
UNI, the Italian Standards Body, as an affiliated partner of the European STAND4PURITY project (Standards for minimum CO2 purity – GA 101260885), is looking for 10 experts in the following areas of the value chain for carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS):
The European ecosystem is moving, and it is moving fast. The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, known as ESPR, expands the range of products covered while maintaining those already included in the Ecodesign Directive. ESPR introduces new types of ecodesign requirements that are pivotal to ensuring an effective implementation of sustainability and circularity principles.
On 19 November, the Horizon Europe funded project Stan4SWAP marked the project’s final event. The event was opened by MEP Pierfrancesco Maran and brought together industry experts, researchers, policymakers, and city representatives to discuss how swappable batteries for light-category electric vehicles (L-cat EVs) can support Europe’s transition to sustainable urban mobility.
Circularity is no longer optional in Europe: it has become both an economic necessity and an environmental obligation. CEN/TC 473 ‘Circular Economy’ stands at the centre of this shift by shaping the concepts and frameworks that will make the transition truly operational.
Young professionals bring new energy, ideas, and skills to European standardization. As Europe undergoes rapid transformations, their contributions are key to ensuring that standards remain relevant, forward-looking, and impactful.