Introduction
As we enter 2024, a year destined to shape the future trajectory of both Europe and the European Standardization System, it is my great honour to present this Work Programme for CEN and CENELEC.
In this pivotal year, standardization is primed to play a crucial role in addressing the evolving needs of our continent. Succeeding in the green and digital transitions, powering the European industry, and fostering a competitive, innovative, and inclusive economy are among the challenges we face.
Against this backdrop, the upcoming European elections represent an opportunity for the European Union to renew its institutions and establish policy priorities for the years ahead. We eagerly look forward to collaborating with the new European institutions, leveraging the power of standards to shape Europe's future, strengthen the Single Market and ensure its resilience.
The input from the High-Level Forum for Standardization (HLF), based on priorities coordinated among Member States, industry representatives, societal stakeholders, SMES, Academia, and ESOs, and resulting in an Annual Union Work Programme (AUWP), is key to drive our activities: the issues at the top of the agenda include Hydrogen, Artificial Intelligence, Critical Raw Materials, Data Interoperability, and Education about standardization.
At the same time, delivering on CEN and CENELEC’s Digital transformation and business model innovation is imperative to ensure the sustainability of the European standardization system. This is even more important in the context of the ongoing evaluations of the Regulation on Standardization and of the Single Market program, the outcome of the European Court of Justice's ruling on Harmonized Standards, and the mid-term revision of the EU long-term budget 2021-2027.
Our driver is the unwavering commitment to the effectiveness and strength of European Standardization, underpinned by a well-functioning European Standardization System.
Symbolizing our forward-looking approach, for the first time this Work Programme is fully digitalized. I invite you to navigate across the different chapters to discover the strategic highlights of 2024.
Dear friends of standardization: 2024 promises to be a year of progress, collaboration, and growth, for CEN and CENELEC and for the whole of Europe. Rooted in our tradition of excellence, the commitment of European standardization to supporting the EU's policy priorities continues. I am confident that, thanks to the work of our many experts and stakeholders, we will succeed in making Europe greener, more digital, and more competitive.