The General Assembly held in Belgrade, Serbia, on June 22, formally established Mr. Lama's three-year mandate, set to span from 2025 to 2027. Currently serving as the President General of the Italian Electrotechnical Committee (CEI), Mr. Lama's appointment was welcomed by CENELEC and CEI.
With more than 35 years of experience in the utilities sector, Riccardo Lama brings a wealth of knowledge as an electrical engineer to his new role. His previous work at Enel, Italy's national electricity entity, has provided him with a diverse skill set encompassing both technical and managerial responsibilities.
The election comes at a pivotal time for European Standardization, following the European Commission's release of a new Strategy last year, which emphasizes the importance of standardization in supporting policy objectives. As President of CENELEC, Mr. Lama expressed his commitment to collaborating with relevant partners at both European and international levels to maximize electrotechnical standardization's potential in addressing current challenges.
In his statement, Mr. Lama highlighted the significance of electrification in realizing Europe's twin digital and green transitions. He emphasized that electrification plays a key role in establishing a carbon-neutral, efficient, and sustainable social and economic model for Europe. With CENELEC being the principal organization responsible for standardization in the electrotechnical sector, Mr. Lama aims to leverage standards to support EU legislation, complemented by international standardization and the IEC.
The Social Employers and the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU), recognized social partners of CENELEC, expressed their support for the establishment of the new Committee. The sector is experiencing substantial growth, employing over nine million workers, equivalent to nearly 5% of the EU workforce. While the industry expands, it is also encountering challenges such as staff shortages and increased care needs due to an aging population.
