European Economic and Social Committee

"After more than fifty years of the EESC fulfilling its mission as advisory body to the EU institutions, I find this superb metaphor of the Committee as a bridge or, better still, a bridge-builder, to be increasingly apt. What we do here is provide a link between the EU institutions and the people of Europe represented on the Committee by their employers, trade unions and various associations. Our “bridging” role is two-fold: we connect EU legislators and regulators to the Member States’ expertise, acquired at grassroots level, and furthermore we also strive to reach out to more citizens’ organisations at European and national level.

This publication will provide more information about who we are and what we do. Our opinions, drawn up by Committee members, convey this even more effectively. It is our members who are the real bridge-builders."

Staffan NILSSON, President of the European Economic and Social Committee