Basics

ETSI stands for European Telecommunications Standards Institute. ETSI develops standards in key global technologies such as: GSM, TETRA, 3G, 4G, 5G, or DECT.

It is one of the three European Standards Organizations (ESOs) and alongside CEN and CENELEC responsible for developing and defining voluntary standards at the European level – CEN with focus on general standards, CENELEC on electrotechnical standards, and ETSI on telecommunications. The role of ESOs is to support EU regulation and policies through the production of harmonised European Standards (ENs) and other deliverables. The standards developed by ESOs are the only ones that can be recognized as ENs.

ETSI standards and technical specifications are publicly available for consultation and implementation on reasonable terms, including free of charge, and are accessible on the ETSI website.

CEN, the European Committee for Standardization, provides a platform for the development of European Standards and other technical documents in relation to various kinds of products, materials, services and processes.

CENELEC, the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization, prepares voluntary standards in the electrotechnical field, which help facilitate trade between countries, create new markets, cut compliance costs and support the development of a Single European Market.

Links

The participation in some of the technical groups (Technical Committees, ETSI Projects) is reserved to members whereas the participation to other technical groups (ETSI Partnership Project, Industry Specification Group, Open Source Group, Software Development Group) is possible for both members and non-members.

TC CYBER

TC CYBER works on market-driven cyber security standardization, advice and guidance to users, manufacturers, network, infrastructure and service operators and regulators. ETSI produces vertical standards (ENs) for the CRA in the EUSR subgroup, but it is also dealing with NIS2, DORA and other EU regulations. The other CYBER subgroup is QSC which deals with quantum-safe cryptography. Portal Link to TC CYBER

CYBER-EUSR WG

The TC CYBER SR Working Group is responsible for producing EU SR deliverables where TC CYBER has been deemed the lead ETSI TB for a given SR by ETSI and that TC CYBER wishes to delegate the work to the Working Group. The Working Group may also work on other SR(s) as delegated by TC CYBER where TC CYBER is not the lead TB but other TB(s) request the Working Group to handle all or some of the work. The Working Group shall be known as “CYBER-EUSR”.

As a minimum CYBER-EUSR is expected to cover work relating to the EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) and is the specific reason for the creation of this Working Group but may cover other SRs in future as deemed appropriate by TC CYBER. Portal Link to CYBER-EUSR

CEN-CLC/JTC 13

CEN-CLC/JTC 13 ‘Cybersecurity and data protection’ is the CEN and CENELEC horizontal technical committee with a primary objective to transport relevant international standards (especially from ISO/IEC JTC 1 SC 27) as European Standards (ENs) in the Information Technology (IT) domain. It also develops ‘homegrown’ ENs, where gaps exist, in support to EU regulations (RED, eIDAS, GDPR, NIS, etc.). These two streams of activities aim at creating a strategic portfolio of standards in Europe, which fits the European needs. CEN-CLC/JTC 13 works closely with ENISA (The European Union Agency for Cybersecurity) in the context of the European certification schemes, and with the European Commission, in the frame of the cybersecurity-related standardization request under the Radio Equipment Directive (RED). Portal link to JTC 13

JTC 13/WG 9

WG9 is responsible for the development of the horizontal standards in response to the European Cyber Resilience Act Standardisation Request M/606, items 1 - 15. WG 9 supports coordination and coherence between the vertical deliverables of the CRA and the horizontal deliverables of WG9.

CLC/TC 65X

CLC/TC 65X Scope: To contribute, support and coordinate the preparation of international standards for systems and elements used for industrial process measurement, control and automation at CENELEC level. To coordinate standardisation activities which affect integration of components and functions into such systems including safety and security aspects. This CENELEC work of standardisation is to be carried out for equipment and systems and closely coordinated with IEC TC65 and its subcommittees with the objective of avoiding any duplication of work while honouring standing agreements between CENELEC and IEC

CLC/TC 47X

CLC/TC 47X Scope: The CLC/TC 47X ‘Semiconductor device and trusted chips’ fostering the development and use of trustworthy semiconductor devices for microelectronics and embedded systems in the European Union. TC 47X aims to establish a common framework in accordance with environmentally good practices for the design, manufacture, and use of semiconductor devices and trusted chips, with a focus on improving security, privacy, and resilience against cyber-attacks. The TC 47X is part of a broader effort by the European Union to improve cybersecurity and protect critical infrastructure against cyber threats.

Types of Standards, Specifications and Reports

ETSI produces specifications, standards, reports and guides, each with its own purpose.
See below the overview of types of standards provided by ETSI, on their website in an overview over the standards making process and there’s also a dedicated PAS process guide .

European Standard (EN)

Used when the document is intended to meet needs specific to Europe and requires transposition into national standards, or when the drafting of the document is required under a standardization request from the European Commission (EC)/European Free Trade Association (EFTA). An EN is drafted by a Technical Committee and approved by ETSI’s European National Standards Organizations.

Harmonised Standards

Harmonised Standards are ENs with a special status. We produce them in response to an EC standardization request. They provide the technical detail necessary to achieve the ‘essential requirements’ of an EC Directive. They are thus key enablers of the European Single Market. We produced and continue to produce numerous Harmonised Standards in support of several EC mandates and policies.

European standardization deliverables

Any other technical specification than a European standard, adopted by a European standardization organization for repeated or continuous application and with which compliance is not compulsory.

ETSI Standard (ES)

Used when the document contains technical requirements. An ES is submitted to the whole ETSI membership for approval.

ETSI Guide (EG)

Used for guidance to ETSI in general on the handling of specific technical standardization activities. It is submitted to the whole ETSI membership for approval.

ETSI Technical Specification (TS)

Used when the document contains technical requirements and it is important that it is available for use quickly. A TS is approved by the Technical Committee that drafted it.

ETSI Technical Report (TR)

Used when the document contains explanatory material. A TR is approved by the Technical Committee that drafted it.

ETSI Special Report (SR)

Used for various purposes, including to make information publicly available for reference. An SR is approved by the Technical Committee which produced it.
ETSI Group Specification (GS)
Provides technical requirements or explanatory material or both. Produced and approved within our Industry Specification Groups (ISGs).

ETSI Group Report (GR)

An ETSI deliverable, containing only informative elements, approved for publication by an Industry Specification Group.