European Economic
and Social Committee
EESC RENEWAL: Rudolf Kolbe, new Vice-President of the EESC Civil Society Organisations’ Group
EU Member State responsible for his nomination as EESC member:
Austria
Nomination as representative of:
Austrian Federal Conference of the Liberal Professions (BUKO)
Educational background and professional experience:
I have the privilege of representing Austria in the European Economic and Social Committee, nominated by the Austrian Federal Conference of the Liberal Professions. Professionally, I work as a self-employed engineer in geodetic surveying – a field that requires precision, but also the ability to keep a broad and human perspective. For more than twenty years I have been devoted to representing the liberal professions at both national and European level. Among other functions, I have held the roles of President of the Austrian Federal Conference of the Liberal Professions (BUKO), co-founder and President of the European Council of Engineers Chambers (ECEC) and President of the European Council of Liberal Professions (CEPLIS). Since 2015, I have been a proud member of the EESC, where I have taken on a variety of responsibilities, including in the Communication Commission.
Motivation for the Vice-Presidency:
Since 2020, I have had the honour of serving as Vice-President of the Civil Society Organisations’ Group – a role I wish to continue with energy, experience and a great sense of commitment. My main priorities include affordable housing, strong health and social policies, artificial intelligence, support for SMEs and the work of the Communication Commission. At the same time, the Presidency’s task is to ensure fairness and balance – in gender, in the diversity of groups represented and in geographical terms - with regard to members' involvement in activities. As Vice-President, I see myself not only as part of a strong and cooperative team, but also as a direct and approachable point of contact for our members. I am convinced that with openness, dialogue and teamwork we can make the concerns of Europe’s citizens and civil society even more clearly heard at EU level.