Presentation EESC/CoR

The European Economic and Social Committee, founded in 1957 under the Treaty of Rome, and the Committee of the Regions, set up in 1994 under the Treaty on European Union (Maastricht), are advisory bodies in charge of the representation of socio-professional interests and of local and regional authorities. They have a common structure. Their headquarters are in Brussels.

Each Committee is composed of 317 members, nominated by the EU governments and appointed by the Council of the European Union for four years.

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) must be consulted before decisions are taken on economic and social policy.
It may also give opinions on other matters on its own initiative.

The Committee of the Regions (CoR) issues opinions on Commission proposals on matters that concern local and regional governments, such as regional policy, the environment, education and transport.
It may also issue opinions on its own initiative.

Both Committees can be consulted by the European Parliament.

The union's activities in the EESC/CoR are under the guardianship of the trade-union delegation, composed of the members of the Executive Committee, delegates of the different services, as well as US Members of the Staff Committee where Union Syndicale is in the majority.

The US delegation meets every month to take stock of the situation in the EESC/CoR, on the union and statutory matters (Staff Committee). These meetings are also open to all the members. Main union actions (negotiations, strike notice, etc.) are discussed by the US delegation and, if the case arises, by the ordinary General Meeting of members, to obtain a mandate to negotiate.

For years, the EESC/CoR section has been very active notably in the defence of the Staff Regulations and for an independent, competent and permanent European public service.