Economic and Social Committee

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The European Union's Economic and Social Committee is the consultative assembly of European "social and economic partners". This phrase refers mainly to representatives of business, employers and trade unions.

Image:CoR-EESC.JPG

It was established by the Treaty of Rome of 1957 in order to unite different economic interest groups to establish the Common Market. The creation of this committee gave them an institution to allow their voices to be heard by the Commission, the Council and the Parliament.

The role of the ESC is purely consultative. However, 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. It is questionable, however, whether this expanded scope truly gave it any more authority.

[edit] Membership

The ESC consists of 317 members, according to the population of the member-states of the EU. Its membership is made up of representatives of Europe's employers' organizations, trade unions, farmers, consumer groups, professional associations, and so on. All the members are appointed by the Council of Ministers following proposals made by the government of the respective Member State. The members are completely independent of their governments. Term-period is four years and is renewable.

On certain issues the ESC works in partnership with the Committee of the Regions.

Number of Members	States
24	Germany, France, Italy, United Kingdom
21	Poland, Spain
12	Belgium, Greece, Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Sweden, Czeck Republic, Hungary
9	Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Lithuania, Slovakia
7	Estonia, Latvia, Slovenia
6	Luxemburg, Cyprus
5	Malta