This is the user sandbox of RamonaGrrr. A user sandbox is a subpage of the user's user page. It serves as a testing spot and page development space for the user and is not an encyclopedia article. Create or edit your own sandbox here. Other sandboxes: Main sandbox | Template sandbox Finished writing a draft article? Are you ready to request review of it by an experienced editor for possible inclusion in Wikipedia? Submit your draft for review!

European Economic and Social Committee

European Economic and Social Committee logo
Jacques Delors building, which houses the EESC and the European Committee of the Regions
Abbreviation	EESC
Formation	1958; 66 years ago (1958)
Type	Advisory body to the European Union
Purpose	Represent employers, employees and various interest groups
Headquarters	Jacques Delors building, Belliard 99, B-1040 Brussels   Belgium
Coordinates	50°50′26″N 4°22′38″E / 50.8405°N 4.3772°E / 50.8405; 4.3772
Membership	329
Secretary General	Isabelle Le Galo Flores   France   Spain
President	Oliver Röpke   Austria
Website	eesc.europa.eu

This article is part of a series on
Politics of the European Union
Member states (27)   Austria   Belgium   Bulgaria   Croatia   Cyprus   Czech Republic   Denmark   Estonia   Finland   France   Germany   Greece   Hungary   Ireland   Italy   Latvia   Lithuania   Luxembourg   Malta   Netherlands   Poland   Portugal   Romania   Slovakia   Slovenia   Spain   Sweden Candidate countries Albania Bosnia and Herzegovina Georgia Moldova Montenegro North Macedonia Serbia Ukraine Countries with suspended accession negotiations Turkey Applicant countries Kosovo Special territories Belgium–Germany relations France–Germany relations Germany–Netherlands relations EU 3 Withdrawal from the European Union
Treaties and Declarations Schuman Declaration (1950) Treaty of Paris (1951) Europe Declaration (1951) Spaak Report (1956) Treaty of Rome (1957) Euratom Treaty (1957) Merger Treaty (1965) Solemn Declaration (1983) Single European Act (1986) Maastricht Treaty (1992) Treaty of Amsterdam (1997) Treaty of Nice (2001) Berlin Declaration (2007) Treaty of Lisbon (2007) Article 7 Article 50 Opt-outs Treaties of accession 1972, 1979, 1985, 1994, 2003, 2005, 2011 Treaties of succession 1984, 2020 Other treaties Schengen Agreement (1985) European Economic Area Agreement (1992) Abandoned treaties and agreements European Constitution (2004) UK membership renegotiation (2015–2016)
Executive institutions European Council President: Michel (ALDE) Parties List of meetings European Commission Von der Leyen Commission President: Von der Leyen (EPP) Vice Presidents College of Commissioners Civil Service Secretary-General: Juhansone
Legislative institutions Legislative procedure Council of the EU Presidency Hungary ( July–December 2024) Configurations GAC FAC ECOFIN Eurogroup AGRIFISH EPSCO COMPET TTE ENVI JHA EYC Voting Secretariat Secretary-General: Thérèse Blanchet Directorates-general COREPER European Parliament ( Members) President: Metsola Largest groups EPP ( Manfred Weber) S&D ( Iratxe García) Member of the European Parliament 9th session (2019–2024) Bureau Vice Presidents Quaestor Conference National parliaments
Judicial institutions Court of Justice of the EU European Court of Justice Members Advocates General Rulings General Court
Auditory institutions European Court of Auditors European Court of Auditors Other auditory bodies Internal Audit Service of the Commission Committee on Budgetary Control of the Parliament Economic and Financial Affairs configuration of the Council Anti-Fraud Office Public Prosecutor's Office
European Central Bank President Lagarde ESCB EMU Euro banknotes Euro coins
Other bodies European Investment Bank Group Investment Bank Investment Fund EIB Institute European Stability Mechanism European Stability Mechanism European University Institute European University Institute Unified Patent Court Unified Patent Court Agencies, decentralised independent bodies and joint undertakings Decentralised agencies of the EU Single market agencies CFSP agencies AFSC agencies ESFS European Supervisory Authorities SRM bodies Executive agencies of the EU Euratom agencies Decentralised independent bodies of the EU European Institute of Innovation and Technology European Public Prosecutor's Office Corporate bodies of the EU European Data Protection Board Authority for European Political Parties and European Political Foundations Joint undertakings of the EU of the Euratom Other independent bodies European Data Protection Supervisor European Ombudsman Advisory bodies European Committee of the Regions European Economic and Social Committee Political and Security Committee European Union Military Committee EU/ESA Space Council Inter-institutional bodies Publications Office of the European Union European External Action Service European Personnel Selection Office Anti-Fraud Office European Administrative School
Euratom Euratom members   Austria   Belgium   Bulgaria   Croatia   Cyprus   Czech Republic   Denmark   Estonia   Finland   France   Germany   Greece   Hungary   Ireland   Italy   Latvia   Lithuania   Luxembourg   Malta   Netherlands   Poland   Portugal   Romania   Slovakia   Slovenia   Spain   Sweden Associated states   Switzerland   United Kingdom Nuclear power in the European Union
Economic and Monetary Union Eurozone members Austria Belgium Croatia Cyprus Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Ireland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Portugal Slovakia Slovenia Spain Eurogroup President Paschal Donohoe Other currencies in use Bulgarian lev Czech koruna Danish krone Hungarian forint Polish złoty Romanian leu Swedish krona ERM II Enlargement of the eurozone Non Euro countries relationship to Euro Bulgaria Czechia Denmark Hungary Poland Sweden Romania
Schengen Area   Austria   Belgium   Bulgaria   Croatia   Czech Republic   Denmark   Estonia   Finland   France   Germany   Greece   Hungary   Italy   Latvia   Lithuania   Luxembourg   Malta   Netherlands   Poland   Portugal   Romania   Slovakia   Slovenia   Spain   Sweden Non-EU members   Iceland   Liechtenstein   Norway   Switzerland Prüm Convention Schengen Information System Visa Information System Visa policy of the Schengen Area Non-Schengen area EU member states   Cyprus   Ireland (Opt-out)
European Economic Area EEA members Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia (provisional member) Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Non-EU members   Iceland   Liechtenstein   Norway Topics EEA Joint Committee EEA National Identity cards Microstates and the European Union
Elections Elections to the European Parliament European parties European foundations Political groups of the European Parliament Spitzenkandidat Constituencies Apportionment Referendums related to the EU European elections 1979 1984 1989 1994 1999 2004 2009 2014 2019 2024 (latest election) Elections in EU member states Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden
Law Acquis Primacy ( ECJ Case 6/64) Subsidiarity Regulation Directive Decision Recommendation Fundamental Rights
Policies and issues Budget Customs Union Free Trade Agreements European Single Market Area of FS&J Policies Agricultural Energy Fisheries Regional Citizenship Passports of the European Union Identity Pro-Europeanism Euroscepticism European banking union European Banking Supervision Single Resolution Mechanism Capital Markets Union European System of Financial Supervision Integration Supranationalism European Federation Multi-speed Europe Enhanced cooperation
Foreign relations High Representative Josep Borrell Ext. Action Service Foreign Policy Defence Policy Foreign relations of EU member states Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Argentina–European Union relations Armenia–European Union relations Australia–European Union relations Brazil–European Union relations Canada–European Union relations China–European Union relations European Union–NATO relations Georgia–European Union relations Iceland–European Union relations Kazakhstan–European Union relations Japan–European Union relations Mexico–European Union relations Moldova–European Union relations Norway–European Union relations Russia–European Union relations Switzerland–European Union relations Turkey–European Union relations Ukraine–European Union relations United Kingdom–European Union relations ( History) Post-Brexit United Kingdom relations with the European Union Brexit United States–European Union relations Common Travel Area ( Ireland) Microstates and the European Union European Union and the United Nations European Union Association Agreement G7 G20
Defunct bodies European Communities (1958–1993) European Coal and Steel Community European Economic Community European Community Western European Union Convention on the Future of Europe
European Union portal Other countries
v t e

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is a consultative body of the European Union (EU) established in 1958. ^[1] It is an advisory assembly composed of experts from employers' associations, trade unions and civil society organisations. Its seat, which it shares with the Committee of the Regions, is the Jacques Delors building on Belliardstraat / Rue Belliard 99 in Brussels.

Role

The European Economic and Social Committee was established by the Treaty of Rome of 1957 in order to unite different economic interest groups in an advisory body to help shape the integration of national economies in Europe into a Single Market. The creation of this Committee gave these interest groups a permanent platform to shape the policies and deliberations of the European Commission, the Council and the European Parliament. The EESC declares itself to be "a bridge between Europe and organised civil society". ^[2]

The European Economic and Social Committee issues opinions to the European institutions on draft legislation as well as on non-legislative proposals. ^[3] The EU treaties require the Committee to be consulted on a range of specified policy sectors, and in all cases where the institutions deem it appropriate. The EESC may also be consulted on an advisory basis by one of the other institutions and also issues opinions on its own initiative. Around 15% of its opinions are own-initiative opinions. ^[4]

The Maastricht Treaty considerably enlarged the Committee's role. Its influence now extends to matters such as social policy, social and economic cohesion, environment, education, health, customers protection, industry, Trans-European Networks, indirect taxation and structural funds.

The Committee is an advocate for civil society also on secondary levels. Notably:

• It strengthens the links of European civil society organizations with partners from countries applying for EU membership, with Mediterranean partner countries, with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, with India ^[5], China and Latin America. ^[6]
• It involves youth representatives in its work. ^[7]

Operation

The Committee comprises three groups that reflect social and civil dialogue stakeholders: the Employers’ Group, the Workers' Group, and the Civil Society Organizations' Group. Each group formulates its own approach to the Committee’s work and engages with the other groups to seek common positions that advance the institution’s influence on policy.

The Committee leverages own-initiative and exploratory opinions to raise awareness about subjects, stakeholders and sectors it considers to have been neglected in the policymaking process^{[ citation needed]}.

EESC exploratory opinions drafted at the request of other institutions, sometimes before the European Commission has even drafted a specific proposal, enable the social partners within the EESC to express the expectations, concerns and needs of grassroots stakeholders. ^[8]

The Committee adopts on average 170 opinions a year on a wide range of topics related to EU policies. ^[9]

Membership

Currently, the EESC has 329 members. The number of members per EU state is proportional to the population of each state. Each of the three groups of the Committee – employers, workers and civil society organizations– has an equal number of members. According to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the number of members of the EESC shall not exceed 350.

Members are appointed by the Council following nominations made by the government of the respective Member State. However, once appointed, the members are completely independent of their governments. They have a renewable term of office of five years. ^[10] This term is non-synchronous with the electoral cycle of the European Parliament. The current EESC term began in 2020 and will end in 2025.

Each group elects its own officers, and the entire EESC membership elects a president from its ranks. Ordinarily, the incoming president of the institution is elected as one of the three serving leaders of the Committee’s groups, and the presidency generally rotates among these groups to ensure political balance. The current President of the EESC, elected in 2023 for a two-and-a-half-year term, is Oliver Röpke. ^{[11] [12]}

State	Members	State	Members	State	Members
Germany	24	Belgium	12	Ireland	9
Hungary	12	Croatia	9	France	24
Portugal	12	Lithuania	9	Italy	24
Sweden	12	Latvia	7	Spain	21
Bulgaria	12	Slovenia	7	Poland	21
Austria	12	Estonia	7	Romania	15
Slovakia	9	Cyprus	6	Netherlands	12
Denmark	9	Luxembourg	6	Greece	12
Finland	9	Malta	5	Czech Republic	12
Total					329

Work

The EESC’s work is divided across six thematic sections: economic and social cohesion (ECO), single market (INT), transport energy, infrastructure and the information society (TEN), employment, social affairs and citizenship (SOC), agriculture, rural development and the environment (NAT) and external relations (REX). ^[13] The EESC also has a Consultative Commission on Industrial Change (CCMI), which aims at helping the European industrial sector anticipate and adapt to the impact of globalization.

Specific matters on which the EESC works include:

• Disability rights ^[14]
• Freedom of the press ^[15]
• Migrations ^[16]
• Renewable energy ^[17]
• Transport ^[18]
• Housing ^[19]
• Sustainable food systems ^[20]
• Circular economy ^[21]
• Artificial intelligence ^[22]
• Environmental protection in trade agreements ^[23]
• A Proposal for a EU Blue Deal ^[24]

Enlargement Candidate Members

On 19 September 2023, the EESC decided to involve representatives from civil societies of EU candidate countries in the advisory work of the Committee by appointing the "Enlargement Candidate Members (ECMs)". ^[25] The ECMs will participate in the preparation of the EESC opinions and Plenary meetings that focus on enlargement. The EESC is the first EU institution to formally recognize such an active role to the representatives from candidate countries.

Controversies

In October 2020, reappointment of the Polish business representative Jacek Krawczyk as member of the EESC attracted harsh criticism as the EESC faced pressure to better prevent harassment in the organization, as Mr. Krawczyk was accused of psychological harassment and was prosecuted by Belgian authorities. ^[26] Besides that, the conduct of Jacek Krawczyk has been investigated by the EU’s anti-fraud office OLAF. ^[27] On 20 October 2020, the European Parliament rejected the EESC’s 2018 financial accounts over its failure to deal with the harassment case. According to the words of MEP Tomáš Zdechovský, who led the budget discharge procedure, the EESC was not able to answer questions regarding its various mistakes and take appropriate measures. ^[28]

Ethics policy

In January 2021 the EESC adopted a new Code of Conduct, establishing stronger sanctions for non-compliance up to and including the expulsion of a member in the case of severe misconduct ^[29].

In March 2022, the EESC adopted revised Rules of Procedure fully incorporating key provisions of the new Code of Conduct. ^[30]

On 21 March 2023, the EESC Bureau approved the decision to participate in the EU Transparency Register, adhering to the interinstitutional agreement of May 2021 between the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. According to the decision, EESC office-holding members are invited to meet only with interest representatives that have registered in the Transparency Register. ^{[31] [32]}

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to European Economic and Social Committee.

• Official website
• Website of the EESC President
• Access to documents of the European Economic and Social Committee on EUR-Lex
• List of Members
• Historical archives of the European Economic and Social Committee are at the Historical Archives of the EU in Florence
• MCE European NAvigator, Economic and social committee
• Group I Employers Group of the Economic and social committee
• Group II Employees Group of the Economic and social committee
• Group III Diversity Europe Group of the Economic and social committee