NEWS
A significant milestone has been reached in European AI standardization. The first standard in support of the implementation of the AI Act, EN 18286: 2026 ‘Artificial intelligence – Quality management system for EU AI Act regulatory purposes’, has been published. This standard is a fundamental step towards regulatory compliance.
Methane (CH4) is the second most important Greenhouse Gas (GHG) contributor to climate change. 60% of the global methane emissions result from human activity, 1/3 of which is generated in the energy sector. To address the climate change challenge, the European Union has adopted Regulation (EU) 2024/1787 on the reduction of methane emissions in the energy sector, which sets ambitious requirements applicable to the oil and fossil gas infrastructures in Europe. Considering that the EU imports most of its oil and fossil gas, Regulation (EU) 2024/1787 also addresses methane emissions occurring outside the EU, with respect to crude oil and natural gas (the main component of which is methane) placed on the EU market.
The Edu4Standards.eu project, funded by Horizon Europe, has set up the first European student network around standardization, called the European Students’ Standardization Association (ESSA).
The RESSE Project – Reinforcing the European Standardization System through Education has launched a call for experts for the development of a Pan-European Certificate on Standardization.
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 joint CEN-CENELEC Workshop on was kicked off on 16th December 2025. The Workshop’s registered participants have agreed on the first draft of the CWA.
The three European Standardization Organizations – CEN, CENELEC and ETSI – have created a consortium to respond to a call under the Single Market Programme aimed at Reinforcing the European Standardization System through Education (RESSE) and addressing the need for skilled experts in standardization.
The Academic Standards Day, held in Belgrade on 1 April 2026 and organized by the Institute for Standardization of Serbia, in cooperation with the Faculty of Organizational Sciences, gathered more than 120 participants, recording an exceptionally high level of attendance. The event generated significant interest among students to become acquainted with standards and their role in modern society.
Every year, the World Bank publishes a World Development Report (WDR) on a specific topic. The 2025 WDR focuses on standards, offering a comprehensive assessment of today’s global landscape and ways they can be used to accelerate economic development.
CEN and CENELEC warmly welcome the European Commission’s publication of the Annual Union Work Programme 2026 for European Standardization (AUWP 2026), which sets out five key priorities and 43 actions in support of EU policies for competitiveness. This document identifies the strategic direction for European standardization and aligns with the objectives of the Competitiveness Compass.