ETSI General Assembly: the time for ETSI is now!

ETSI concluded its latest General Assembly with a forward‑looking agenda that highlighted the organisation’s strategic transformation, reaffirmed its alignment with EU priorities, and celebrated outstanding contributions within the ETSI community through the 2026 ETSI Fellows Awards.

The Director‑General presented a comprehensive report outlining the progress made throughout ETSI’s ongoing transformation journey. He emphasised that ETSI’s purpose has never been more pertinent, particularly in a time marked by unprecedented technological and geopolitical turbulence.

Against the backdrop of a competitive global digital networked economy, economic and policy actors increasingly seek common ground to ensure predictability. ETSI’s unique Europe‑based, globally oriented, industry‑led standardisation model was highlighted as a distinctive strength—positioning the organisation as a credible and legitimate leader capable of ensuring interoperability amid growing volatility and uncertainty.

The DG progress report stressed that 2025 laid the foundations for ETSI’s transformation, and that the time has now come to revise and refresh the organisation’s long‑term strategy to meet the evolving needs of industry, public authorities, and global digital ecosystems.

A representative from DG GROW, European Commission, in his presentation to the General Assembly, praised ETSI for its consistent efforts to align with strategic EU requirements that is transparency, inclusiveness and technology outreach beyond telecommunications.

The intervention reaffirmed ETSI’s role as a trusted partner in supporting EU policy objectives and regulatory frameworks, particularly as Europe sharpens its focus on digital sovereignty, cybersecurity, and the implementation of major legislative acts. The Commission noted that ETSI’s work continues to play a vital role in ensuring Europe’s competitiveness across sectors dependent on interoperable and future‑proof digital technologies.

Another key highlight of the General Assembly was the announcement of the 2026 ETSI Fellows, recognising individuals who have made exceptional technical and strategic contributions to the organisation and to global standardisation. Keith Dickerson, Kevin Holley and Michael Pluke were honoured for their remarkable achievements.