Ombudswoman opens inquiry into EU Commission’s handling of AI standards
The European Ombudswoman, Teresa Anjinho, has opened an inquiry into the European Commission’s oversight of transparency, inclusiveness, and accountability in the adoption of harmonised standards for artificial intelligence. The inquiry stems from a complaint by a civil society organisation alleging insufficient public disclosure by standardisation bodies, including a lack of information on contributors and the absence of published meeting minutes. The complainant further claims the Commission has not ensured balanced stakeholder representation in the standard-setting process.
As an initial step, the Ombudswoman has requested the Commission to answer detailed questions on the composition of the groups preparing AI standards, the transparency rules applied by CEN and CENELEC, and the Commission’s management, monitoring, and review mechanisms for the process and its outcomes. She has also asked for specific documents related to the mandates, governance, and oversight of standard development under the AI Act standardisation request.
Harmonised standards, developed by recognised European Standards Organisations upon Commission request, enable companies to demonstrate compliance with EU legislation and thereby access the EU market. In May 2023, the Commission issued a standardisation request under the AI Act to CEN and CENELEC, tasking them with developing standards that mitigate risks to safety and fundamental rights. This positions private standardisation bodies to address both technical specifications and broader normative choices affecting high-risk AI systems’ design and use.
The inquiry highlights core governance concerns around private standard-setting in sensitive regulatory domains, including transparency of participants, record-keeping, and stakeholder balance. Its outcome may shape how the Commission structures and supervises AI standardisation, potentially leading to stricter disclosure obligations, clearer representational criteria, and enhanced accountability in the development of harmonised standards underpinning AI compliance in the EU.
