NEWS
The ETUC has been actively contributing to the work of CEN and CENELEC Joint Technical Committee 21 (JTC 21) in the development of two European standards mandated by the European Commission to support the implementation of the AI Act.
On May 16, 2025, the Portuguese National Standardization Body – IPQ (Instituto Português da Qualidade) – officially launched NormIA, an AI-powered virtual assistant designed to support citizens and businesses in understanding and applying standards.
As we head into autumn, SIST has a series of engaging initiatives lined up to raise awareness of standardization and to deepen connections with business and research communities.
IFAN, the International Federation of Standards Users, recently hosted an IFAN AI Workshop. The workshop explored how AI is reshaping the standards ecosystem, from development to implementation. The workshop had a strong turnout, with over 50 participants from the standardization and tech communities. The engagement and interaction during the sessions reaffirmed the importance of cross-sector collaboration in shaping responsible, inclusive, and forward-looking AI standards.
Norway is in the midst of a sweeping transformation in how it produces, distributes, and consumes energy. At the heart of this change is a national movement toward a fully electrified society—one where electricity is no longer limited to homes and some industrial applications but is becoming the foundation for transport, aquaculture, and other critical sectors. This evolution is not only central to meeting climate goals but also to fostering energy security, economic resilience, and technological leadership.
CEN and CENELEC responded to the Call for Evidence on the Revision of Regulation 1025/2012, outlining a clear vision to strengthen the European Standardization System (ESS) and ensure its continued relevance and resilience.
On 7 July, CEN and CENELEC officially accepted the European Commission’s Standardization Request on European Trusted Data Framework, under Mandate M/614. This milestone supports the implementation of the EU Data Act which will become applicable on 12 September 2025.
As the European Commission pushes forward with the Industrial Decarbonization Accelerator Act (IDAA), a key part of the Clean Industrial Deal, CEN and CENELEC are stepping up to ensure standards play a key role in Europe’s green industrial future. The objective of the IDAA is to increase sustainable and resilient industrial production in energy-intensive industrial sectors in the EU by supporting decarbonization investments.
Young professionals bring new energy, ideas, and skills to European standardization. As our society undergoes rapid transformations, their contributions are key to ensuring that standards remain relevant, forward-looking, and impactful.
The High-Level Forum on European Standardization (HLF) pledged to enhance education and skills in standardization at its second meeting in November 2023. As part of this pledge, HLF participants agreed on a joint initiative to highlight national standardization representatives who are active at the international level.