The CEN-CENELEC Joint Technical Committee 21 (JTC 21) plenary meeting, held from May 12–15, 2025, in Stavanger, Norway, marked a pivotal moment for European artificial intelligence (AI) standardization. Hosted by Standards Norway at the Havtil venue, the event brought together leading experts, stakeholders, and representatives from across Europe to advance the harmonization of AI standards in alignment with the EU AI Act and broader European digital priorities.
A milestone for European AI standards
The plenary and accompanying working group sessions in Stavanger underscored the urgency and complexity of developing harmonized AI standards. These standards are being built under a mandate from the European Commission and, once adopted, will provide organizations with a clear path to compliance with the AI Act’s requirements. This legal certainty is vital as the Act’s high-risk provisions are set to come into force in August 2026.
JTC 21’s work is a massive collaborative effort, involving 300 experts from 24 countries and supported by over 1,000 additional specialists in national mirror committees. The plenary advanced consensus-building across diverse stakeholders, including industry, academia, public authorities, and civil society. This inclusiveness is a cornerstone of the standardisation process, ensuring that the resulting standards are robust, legitimate, and widely accepted.
Key outcomes from the plenary included:
- Advancing draft standards: There was significant progress on draft European Norms (ENs) supporting the AI Act, with further refinements planned throughout the year based on national feedback.
- Inclusiveness and civil society engagement: The meeting reinforced the importance of involving civil society and ensuring that AI standards reflect equality and human rights principles, as mandated by the EU AI Act.
- International collaboration: The plenary reaffirmed ongoing cooperation with global standardisation bodies such as ISO and IEC, ensuring that European AI standards are internationally relevant and support EU trade objectives.
Looking ahead
The successful Stavanger plenary sets the stage for finalising key AI standards in 2026, in time for the AI Act’s implementation. The consensus-driven, inclusive approach adopted by JTC 21 strengthens the legitimacy of European standards and positions Europe as a global leader in trustworthy and responsible AI.
As the digital and green transitions accelerate, the outcomes of this plenary will help foster trust in AI technologies, support innovation, and ensure a fair and sustainable Single Market for all Europeans.