Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union

The Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has its origins in the Treaty of Rome (1957). The EESC grew out of the aim of involving economic and social interest groups in European decision-making. This gave rise to the broad range of actors who have a role to play within the EESC.

Role

The subject areas that the EESC tackles are largely of a social and community nature, such as education, the internal market and the environment.

In practice

The EESC is composed of 344 politically independent members from all of the Member States of the EU. The national governments put forward their prospective candidates, who are then appointed for renewable five-year terms.

The members are divided into three large groups: “employers”, “employees” and a less homogenous group known as “various interests”. The last of these groups is primarily composed of representatives of socio-economic and cultural organisations, citizens’ and professional organisations.

The Committee elects a President from its midst for a two-and-a-half year term, along with a Bureau. Alongside the President, the Bureau also comprises two Vice-Presidents, three Group Presidents, the Section Presidents and 27 directly elected members, one per Member State.

The EESC also has six specialised sections, which prepare the ground for the Committee’s opinions in terms of content.

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