The European Economic and Social Committee is an EU consultative body set up by the 1957 Rome Treaties. The EESC ensures that citizens through their organizations have a say in Europe’s development.
The European Economic and Social Committee provides a forum for consultation dialogue and consensus-building among representatives from the various sections of organized civil society.

 

EESC

The EESC is made up of 329 members from the 27 member states. Members are appointed for a renewable five-year term by the Council of the EU on a proposal from each member state. They are completely independent in carrying out their duties, working in the general interest of the European Union and its citizens. EESC members represent a broad spectrum of economic, social and cultural interests in their countries of origin.

They are divided into three groups:

  • Group I- Employers: representatives of employers' associations in industry, commerce, finance, services and agriculture. President of the Group: Stefano Mallia (Malta)
  • Group II- Workers: representatives of national trade unions and their confederations and sectoral federations. President of the Group: : Lucie STUDNIČNÁ (Czech Republic)
  • Group III- Civil Society Organizations: other representatives and stakeholders of civil society, in particular from the economic, social, professional and cultural areas, such as NGOs, the liberal professions, consumers, farmers, etc. President of the Group: Séamus Boland (Ireland).

The President of the EESC for 2023-2025 is Oliver Röpke (Germany) and the Vice-Presidents are Aurelian Plosceanu (Romania) and Krzysztof Pater (Poland).

Members of all EESC groups participate in the work of the Committee through activities in the seven thematic sections:

  1. ECO -    Section for Economic and Monetary Union and Economic and Social Cohesion 

  2. INT -    Section for the Single Market, Production and Consumption

  3. TEN -    Section for Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society

  4. REX -    Section for External Relation

  5. NAT -    Section for Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment

  6. SOC -    Section for Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship

  7. CCMI -    Consultative Commission on Industrial Change

And three other bodies

  • DSMO -    Digital Transition and Single Market Observatory

  • SDO -    Sustainable Development Observatory

  • LMO -    Labour Market Observatory

Representatives of Employers of Poland at the Committee

As part of their work at the EESC, Employers of Poland influence the shape of adopted opinions and reports on all matters covered by the scope of EU action. 

The representative of Employers of Poland at the EESC for the 2023-2025 term of office is Janusz Pietkiewicz, who also serves as Quaestor of Group I (employers).


Key policy areas covered by the EESC:

  • Youth employment
  • Climate change
  • Renewable energy
  • Sustainable development
  • Demographic change
  • Active ageing
  • Immigration and social inclusion
  • Research and innovation
  • Education
  • SMES
  • Disability

Priorities for the current EESC term of office:

1.Integrating strategic foresight int EU policy

2.Civil society, youth and local communities implementing ambitious climate action.

3.Civil society as a driving force for a transition to a fairer and more sustainable world. 

4.Financing the EU economy as a driver for long-term sustainable economic growth.

5.The circular dimension of the circular economy and packaging industry.

6.A strategic vision for the energy transition to secure EU strategic autonomy.

7.Health and care challenges in the EU.

8.Affordable housing policy and building renovation.

9.Response to a Russian aggression in Ukraine.

10.Gender equality.