In the beginning of June, the CEN and CENELEC Presidential Committee Annual Plenary Meetings brought together the SME Working Group (SME-WG) and the Societal Stakeholders Group (SSG) to present ongoing initiatives and align on future priorities for inclusiveness in the European Standardization System (ESS).
A notable moment of the plenary was the introduction of the new SSG Chair, Nathalie Baumier, who outlined her vision to strengthen trust, attractiveness, and inclusiveness within the ESS. Discussions across both groups focused on concrete action plans and identifying opportunities to improve the system from within.
The SME-WG provided updates from national Members and SMEs, including:
- DIN’s work on an AI-based tool for standards check for SMEs
- SBS’s Meeting Standards week, taking place in June
The SSG session highlighted contributions from societal stakeholders:
- ANEC’s outreach, including a national event in Latvia
- ETUC’s outreach and a joint event with BDS hosted in Bulgaria
- ECOS’s annual networking days
The key priorities discussed included the revision of Regulation 1025/2012, shaping the future of the ESS, and ongoing work on the CEN-CENELEC Guide 25, which focuses on stakeholder engagement.
These exchanges reaffirm the importance of collaboration, innovation, and inclusiveness in ensuring that European standardization remains accessible and relevant to all stakeholders.
