The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) is a non-profit organization set up under Belgian law. Through its services, it provides a platform for the development of European Standards (ENs) and other consensus documents.
It is the only recognized European organization according to Directive 98/34/EC for the planning, drafting and adoption of European Standards in all areas of economic activity with the exception of electrotechnology (CENELEC) and telecommunication (ETSI).
CEN works in a decentralized way. Its Members operate the technical groups that draw up the standards; the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre (CCMC) in Brussels manages and coordinates this system.
The Members of CEN are the National Standardization Bodies of 32 European Countries (European Union + European Free Trade Association + Croatia+ Turkey).The work within CEN is performed in Technical Committees (producing European Standards and Technical Specifications) or in CEN Workshops (producing CEN Workshop Agreements).