In 1957, the Economic and Social Committee was established and given consultative powers in order to bring, through its opinions and a wide variety of other activities, the perspective and concerns of organised civil society to the European decision-making bodies, and through this bring the EU closer to its citizens.

The following year the Economic and Social Committee held its first plenary session. Read more about the 65th anniversary here: www.eesc.europa.eu/65. (ck)