At their General Assemblies in Cyprus, the 43 Members of CEN and CENELEC signed the CEN and CENELEC Cyprus Commitment, reaffirming their shared ambition to guide the future evolution of the European Standardization System.
The signing marks a collective milestone and reflects a common determination to keep European standardization trusted, relevant and effective in a fast-changing economic, technological and policy environment.
The Cyprus Commitment comes at a pivotal moment. CEN and CENELEC are advancing a multi-year transformation aimed at making European standardization fit for purpose: faster, more digital, more open, and closer to the evolving needs of industry, policymakers and other stakeholders. The Commitment sends a clear message about how this transformation will be carried out: shaped collectively, guided by shared values, and built on the enduring strengths of the European model.
The Commitment sets out a common direction for CEN and CENELEC and their Members, embracing change and innovation while preserving the principles that underpin European standardization: consensus, national delegation, technical excellence, inclusiveness and trust.
Anchored in CEN and CENELEC’s Long-Term Vision and the development of the European Standardization Hub, the Commitment reflects a determination to move progressively beyond a primarily document-based model towards digital standards and services that help European businesses access, implement and apply standards more efficiently. It also underlines the importance of working more closely with the wider innovation ecosystem, from industry consortia to open-source and research communities, while ensuring that the transition ahead remains balanced, inclusive and rooted in what has long made European standardization a global reference.
This collective ambition is reflected in the words of the Presidents of CEN and CENELEC:
Ulrika Francke, President of CEN, said: "The Cyprus Commitment is a clear expression of collective leadership. At a time of profound technological, economic and regulatory change, Europe needs a standardization system that can adapt with confidence, ambition and unity. By signing this commitment together, our Members are showing that they are ready not only to accompany change, but to help lead it."
Riccardo Lama, President of CENELEC, added: "With this signing, CEN and CENELEC Members affirm a shared understanding that the future of European standardization must be shaped proactively. It means preserving what makes our system trusted, while ensuring it remains effective and valuable in a more digital, interconnected and fast-moving environment. This is the spirit in which CEN and CENELEC are approaching the transformation ahead."
With the Cyprus Commitment now signed, CEN and CENELEC Members will continue to work together in the months ahead to translate this shared direction into practical progress. This includes continued engagement with the European Commission on the revision of Regulation 1025/2012, with ISO and IEC under the unique agreements that link European and international standardization, and with the wider European standardization community.
This is also how European standardization affirms its role as an integral part of a European Digital Quality Infrastructure: one that connects regulation, industry and innovation across the European region and helps translate standards into practical value for businesses, public authorities and society. The future of European standardization will be shaped not by external pressures alone, but by what Europe itself chooses to build together.
The text of the Cyprus Commitment is available here.
