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.
2026 will be a pivotal year for European standardization. Against a backdrop of rapid technological, industrial, and global change, CEN and CENELEC remain clear in our mission: to make Europe’s Single Market stronger, more digital, and more sustainable through standards.
This year, we are focusing on some of the technologies that will shape the future: Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and the Digital Product Passport. The standards we will develop will give Europe the tools to lead the digital transition safely, responsibly, and with confidence.
At the same time, supporting the green transition continues to be a priority: from clean tech to renewable energy and circular economy. Standards are the invisible engine driving Europe’s transformation.
At CEN and CENELEC, we believe that progress happens when we work together. Along with the European Commission and our stakeholders, we are undertaking an in-depth reflection on how to make the European Standardization System more efficient, more open, and ready for the future.
CEN and CENELEC will also continue to embed standardization more deeply into the European research and innovation ecosystem. Together with academia, research institutions, and innovation networks, we will identify new and emerging areas for standardization and contribute to shaping Europe’s next research framework.
The CEN and CENELEC Work Programme 2026 presents the main standardization developments and strategic priority areas for CEN and CENELEC in 2026, across 16 business sectors. For each sector, the reader will find a list of the technical bodies involved in carrying out the work, the number of standards published by CEN and CENELEC, and a detailed overview of the topics where standardization work is expected.
The last section gives a horizontal overview of the most important strategic highlights that will shape CEN and CENELEC’s development over the course of 2026 and beyond. This part includes the continuing implementation and reprioritization exercise of the Strategy 2030, our commitment to strengthening the representativeness of societal stakeholders in standardization, support for promoting gender-responsive standards, continued international cooperation activities, and close collaboration with the European Commission to deliver solutions for a more efficient, more open, and future-proof European Standardization System.
The world is changing fast, and while 2026 will undoubtedly bring challenges, we are confident that, together with our Members and Partners, CEN and CENELEC will deliver impactful results. We are committed to working towards a European Standardization System that is effective, inclusive, and future-oriented to benefit Europe’s economy, industry, and citizens.
Let’s make 2026 a year of ambition, innovation, and shared progress for European standardization!
