European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
The EESC is a consultative body that gives representatives of Europe’s organised civil society a formal platform to express their points of view on EU issues. Its opinions are addressed to the Council, the European Commission and the European Parliament. It thus has a key role to play in the Union’s decision-making process.
The ESC was set up by the 1957 Rome Treaties to involve economic and social interest groups in the establishment of the common market and to provide an institutional structure for briefing the European Commission and the Council of Ministers on European Community issues.
Committed to European integration, the EESC contributes to strengthening the democratic legitimacy and effectiveness of the European Union by enabling civil society organisations from the Member States to express their views at European level.
The EESC has 329 members, who 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 5-year term of office. The latest renewal was in October 2020 for the 2020-2025 term of office.
The Committee reflects a huge range of different interests in society, as members come from three basic groups – employers, employees and the so-called groups of various interests, representing organizations active in social, economic, civic, professional and cultural fields.
They belong to one of three groups:
- Employers (Group I)
- Workers (Group II)
- Diversity Europe (Group III)
Advisory role
Consultation of the EESC by the Commission or the Council is mandatory in certain cases; in others it is optional. The EESC may, however, also adopt opinions on its own initiative. On average, the EESC delivers 170 advisory documents and opinions a year (of which about 15% are issued on its own initiative). All opinions are forwarded to the EU’s decision-making bodies and then published in the EU’s Official Journal.
Information and integration role
Over the last few years the EESC has stepped up its role in the European Union and has transcended the basic role assigned to it in the Treaties. It acts as a forum for the single market and, with the support of other EU bodies, has hosted a series of events aimed at bringing the EU closer to the people.
Organisation
The Committee has six sections and one consultative body
- Economic and Monetary Union and Economic and Social Cohesion (ECO)
- The Single Market, Production and Consumption (INT)
- Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society (TEN)
- Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship (SOC)
- Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment (NAT)
- External Relations (REX)
- Consultative Committee on Industrial Change (CCMI)
Croatian members of the European Economic and Social Committee 2020-2025
At its 234th session held on 4 June 2020, the Government of the Republic of Croatia appointed members of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) from the Republic of Croatia for the new term of mandate from 2020 to 2025.
Group I – Employers’ Associations
- Violeta Jelić, HOK – Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts
- Dragica Martinović Džamonja, HGK – Croatian Chamber of Commerce
- Davor Majetić, HUP – Croatian Employers’ Association
Group II – Unions
- Marija Hanževački, NHS – Independent Trade Unions of Croatia
- Anica Milićević-Pezelj, SSSH – Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Croatia
- Vilim Ribić, MATICA – Association of Croatian Trade Unions
Group III – Other civil society organizations
- Lidija Pavić-Rogošić, ODRAZ / Croatian Volunteer Development Center
- Danko Relić, Croatian Public Health Association Andrija Štampar
- Svjetlana Marijon, The Association IMAGINE
Activities of Croatian members
Croatian representatives have proven to be active members of the EESC, participating in working groups to draft opinions, presenting their opinions and views at meetings of their groups and in plenary sessions, and participating in various working bodies set up by the EESC with other countries.
Members are active in the country, in addition to cooperating with the Parliamentary Committee on European Affairs, they have initiated, organized or participated in a number of gatherings. For example, the active participation of a large number of EESC members from different countries in the First Croatian Rural Parliament, held in Baranja in 2015, can be highlighted.
EESC Communication Group
The EESC pays attention to communication and cooperation with other relevant organizations, EU bodies and civil society. One of the EESC Vice-Presidents is in charge of communication and heads the Communication Group, which is made up of interested members. In each country, one member is additionally in charge for communication.
For Croatia, this role was is performed by Lidija Pavić-Rogošić since 2013, at the suggestion of the members.
More information: www.eesc.europa.eu