The European Economic and Social Committee

Corps
Committed to European integration, the EESC contributes to strengthening the democratic legitimacy and effectiveness of the European Union by enabling civil society organizations from the Member States to express their views at European level.

The Committee fulfils three key missions:

  • Helping to ensure that European policies and legislation tie in better with economic, social and civic circumstances on the ground, by assisting the European Parliament, Council and European Commission, making use of EESC members' experience and representativeness, dialogue and efforts to secure consensus serving the general interest;
  • Promoting the development of a more participatory European Union which is more in touch with popular opinion, by acting as an institutional forum representing, informing, expressing the views of and securing dialogue with organised civil society;
  • Promoting the values on which European integration is founded and advancing, in Europe and across the world, the cause of democracy and participatory democracy, as well as the role of civil society organisations.

The 344 members of the EESC are drawn from economic and social interest groups in Europe. Members are nominated by national governments and appointed by the Council of the European Union for a renewable five-year term of office. The latest renewal was in October 2010 for the mandate 2010-2015.

 

European Economic and Social Committee

Rue Belliard, 99

B-1040 BRUSSELS

Belgium

Tel: +32 (0)2 546 90 11

Fax: +32 (0)2 513 48 93

http://www.eesc.europa.eu