Relations with Consultative Committees

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)

Is a consultative body of the European Union. It acts as an intermediary between organised civil society and the European Parliament, Council and Commission. The Committee was set up by the 1957 Rome Treaties and is composed of 329 members that are appointed for a term of five years that is renewable. The EESC is composed of three groups representing employers, employees, and civil society organisations. The committee meets in plenary session 9 times a year to debate and adopt opinions and resolutions for further action by the EU.

The EESC has three key missions:

• advising the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission;
• promoting the development of a European Union that is more in touch with public opinion;
• securing European Union dialogue with organised civil society and supporting their role and participatory democracy.

Relations between the European Commission and the EESC are governed by Article 301-304 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU and the 2022 renewed Protocol on Cooperation.

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR)

Is a consultative body of the European Union. It was set up by the Maastricht Treaty of 1992 and is composed of 329 members (grouped by political party) who have been elected at local or regional level (for example as Mayors or Presidents of a region). They meet six times a year in plenary session to debate and adopt opinions and resolutions for further action by the EU.

The Committee’s mission is:

• to involve regional and local authorities in the European decision-making process
• to encourage greater participation of fellow citizens.
• to promote multi-level governance and the principle of subsidiarity.

Relations between the European Commission and the CoR are governed by Article 305-307 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU and the 2024 renewed Protocol on Cooperation.