- published: 21 May 2015
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The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is a consultative body of the European Union (EU) established in 1958. It is an advisory assembly composed of "social partners", namely: employers (employers' organisations), employees (trade unions) and representatives of various other interests. Its seat, which it shares with the Committee of the Regions, is the Jacques Delors building on 99 Rue Belliard in Brussels. Once known by the acronym "EcoSoc", the body is now referred to as the "EESC", to avoid confusions with the United Nations ECOSOC.
It was established by the Treaty of Rome of 1957 in order to unite different economic interest groups to establish a Single Market. The creation of this committee gave them an institution to allow their voices to be heard by the European Commission, the Council and the European Parliament. The EESC declares itself to be "a bridge between Europe and organised civil society".
It is mandatory for the Committee to be consulted on those issues stipulated in the Treaties and in all cases where the institutions deem it appropriate. The Treaty of Maastricht considerably enlarged the Committee's domain. 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. On certain issues the EESC works in partnership with the Committee of the Regions.
Presentation 2014-2015 of the European Economic and Social Committee
The work of the European Economic and Social Committee
Staffan Nilsson, President of the European Economic and Social Committee
Tzonka Iotzova, Administrator, External Relations, European Economic and Social Committee
DIIR Kalon's talk at the EU's European Economic and Social Committee 18 April 2013
Setting the agenda for a sustainable future - the road to the UN summit on the Post-2015 agenda
Gérard Dantin (European Economic and Social Committee)
Staffan Nilsson, President, European Economic and Social Committee
TRANSLATE IN 20 LANGUAGES = European Economic and Social Committee
Staffan Nilsson (Former President of the European Economic and Social Committee)