• The European Commission has recently published the Rolling Plan for ICT Standardisation 2026, which outlines how EU digital policies are linked to concrete standardisation actions across a fast-evolving technological landscape.

• Updated on a yearly basis, the Rolling Plan (RP) acts as a practical link between policy and implementation, ensuring that regulatory priorities are aligned with the work of European and international standard-setting organisations

• It not only helps identify standardisation gaps and priorities, but also supports the implementation of EU legislation. At the same time, the RP contributes to strengthening Europe’s role in global standard-setting processes.

It is developed together with the European Multi-Stakeholder Platform on ICT Standardisation (MSP), an expert group that brings together representatives from industry, public authorities, standardisation bodies, academia, and civil society to advise the Commission on priorities in this field. As an active member of the MSP, European DIGITAL SME Alliance contributed to the discussions on the latest updates, bringing forward the perspective of its members and SME experts.

What’s new in 2026?

The 2026 edition expands the scope of the framework, covering around 260 actions across approximately 40 technological domains, reflecting the growing complexity of the EU’s digital agenda.

New areas introduced in this edition include trusted and secure chips, with a focus on hardware-level security, internet standards aimed at ensuring resilience and interoperability, and trust in media, addressing issues such as content authenticity and disinformation. These additions reflect an increasing policy focus on security, resilience, and trust as foundational elements of Europe’s digital transformation.

Existing domains such as the data economy, interoperability, and digital identity have been updated to reflect recent regulatory developments, including the Data Act and the ongoing evolution of the eIDAS framework.

As the EU continues to advance its digital and green transitions, the RP 2026 highlights the importance of coordinated and forward-looking standardisation. In this sense, it should be seen as a living instrument that helps translate policy objectives into practical, interoperable, and secure technological solutions.

Interested in contributing to future editions of the RP? Become a member and join the Standards Working Group.