The Members supply European Standards as national standards and draft standards.
The National Members are the only 'effective' Members according to Belgian law under which CEN is registered as a non-profit making international, scientific and technical organisation. The National Members approve the annual budget of CEN and elect its Secretary General in the statutory CEN General Assembly convened by its President.
The Members are the national standards bodies of the EU and EFTA countries and the Czech Republic.
They furnish the secretariats of CEN technical committees.
The CEN Members develop and vote for the ratification of European Standards. They must implement such standards as national standards, withdrawing all conflicting national standards on the same subject.
Affiliates are the national standards bodies of Central and Eastern European countries, which can in principle become members of the European Union or EFTA, and which therefore can become full National Members of CEN, on fulfilment of certain criteria, most importantly the adoption of European Standards as national standards.
They may participate in the CEN General Assembly and in technical bodies. They receive all technical and general documentation from CEN.