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ESEC - Economic, Social and Environmental Council of the Republic of France
Practical information | About | Mission | Membership | Organisation | Working Methods
Practical information
Presidente: Claire THOURY
+ 33 1 44 43 61 50
Secretary-General: Valéry Molet (M.)
+ 33 1 44 43 61 80
Palais d'Iéna 9 Place d'Iéna – 75775 PARIS cedex 16
Tel +33 (1) 44 43 60 00
Fax +33 (1) 44 43 61 87
Email contact@lecese.fr
http://www.lecese.fr
About
The Economic, Social and Environmental Council (ESEC) is the third constitutional assembly of the Republic of France, which advises the Government and the Parliament. The Council participates in the development and evaluation of public policies in its fields of competence.
Mission
Since the reform of 2021, the Economic, Social and Environmental Council has been entrusted with new missions which allow its work to be usefully enriched by citizen participation.
The ESEC is a democratic expression of civil society in action. Its work is based on listening, dialogue and the search for a demanding consensus to respond to the challenges of today and tomorrow and to inform public decision-making.
Membership
The Economic, Social and Environmental Council brings together 175 members, representatives of civil society, appointed for a term of 5 years. They can not serve more than two consecutive terms.
The 175 members are divided as follows.
- 45 members for social and regional cohesion and NGOs
- 26 members for the protection of nature and the environment
- 52 members for companies, farmers, craft workers, liberal professions, mutual societies, cooperatives and consular chambers
- 52 members for employees
Organisation
The Board is the governing body of the Council. It is elected by the Assembly at each renewal and at mid-term. It is composed of the President and 18 members, one for each representation group.
The President directs the work of the Council.
The 175 members of the Council are divided, according to their socio-professional affiliation, into 19 representation groups with a shared affinity of ideas and interests.
The sections are:
- Section for Social Affairs and Health
- Section for Labor and Employment
- Section for Territories, Agriculture and Food
- Section for Economy and Finance
- Section for European and international affairs
- Section for Environment
- Section for Education, Culture and Communication
- Delegation for women's rights and equality
- Delegation for the Overseas
Citizen participation
The ESEC is the privileged place of expression for citizen participation via several mechanisms:
- the organisation of citizens' conventions
- the association of citizens drawn by lot within its working groups
- online consultations: more than 250.000 citizens have already contributed on participez.lecese.fr
Working Methods
The topics addressed by the Council result either from a government request, from the request of a chairman of a meeting, from the request of citizens or from its own initiative. In all cases, the Bureau designates the section (or commission) in charge with preparing the draft opinion or study.
The sections appoint a rapporteur for each subject allocated to them and then they prepare draft opinions, usually included in a report. They may also prepare studies that are subject to the approval of the Board; for this they gather the necessary documentation and may organise hearings of competent personalities; meetings are held in camera.
The plenary assembly votes opinions that are presented by the rapporteur appointed by the relevant section; ministers are informed in advance of the debates that concern them, they can attend and speak; the meetings are public; the press attends them and reports.
Opinions, reports and studies are published in a special edition of the official journals, available either by subscription or by single copy. They are also available on the website http://www.lecese.fr