NEWS
On 29 June, Small Business Standards (SBS) gathered nearly 100 guests at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in Brussels for its Stakeholder Reception and inaugural Awards Ceremony, the highlight of the 4th edition of MeetingStandards.
On 12 June 2026, the Bulgarian trade union confederation Podkrepa, in collaboration with the ETUC, organized Bulgaria’s first-ever trade union awareness event on standardization. The event highlighted how technical standards ensure safe and healthy working environments and explored how workers and their representatives can actively engage in shaping them.
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).
The ETUC has been actively contributing to the development of the standard on AI Risk Management (prEN 18228), which is now under Public Enquiry until the end of July. This standard is intended to support Article 9 of the AI Act. Its adoption will therefore be particularly important, as all high-risk AI systems placed on the market or put into service in the EU—including the ones to be deployed at the workplace—will need to demonstrate conformity with its requirements.
On 27 April 2026, the Institute for Standardization of the Republic of North Macedonia (ISRSM) convened the constitutive session that marked the establishment of ISRSM’s national TC 50 on the safety of toys, childcare products, playgrounds, and equipment for sports and other recreational facilities.
On 28 April, trade unions across the world marked International Workers’ Memorial Day. The day provides a moment to remember the people who have lost their lives, health, and livelihoods because of unsafe work.
SBS is pleased to invite you to join key stakeholders in Brussels on 29 June 2026 to honour those contributing to a fairer, more competitive and innovative economic future at the inaugural SBS Awards Ceremony, a landmark event debuting during this year's Meeting Standards initiative (22 to 30 June).
A new European standard, EN 81-76:2025, introduces the possibility of using specially designed lifts to evacuate people who cannot use stairs during emergencies. Traditionally, evacuation has relied on assistance from others or rescue services, limiting independence for many people with disabilities.
The Annex III organizations of the EU Standardization Regulation support the representation of societal and small business interests in standards-making.