European University Institute Library

Comité économique et social, [Fonds], 1958-1975

Descriptions are the property of the European University Institute (Historical Archives of the European Union), but can be freely used provided that reference is made to the source

The Economic and Social Committee (ESC) is the advisory body of the Council and Commission, and since the Amsterdam Treaty of 1997, of the European Parliament. Established by the Treaty of Rome (1957), its objective was the creation of a civil society in the realisation of the Common Market and Euratom. Its main areas of interest were agriculture, free movement of persons and services, transport and social policy. The Paris Summit (1972) granted the right of legislative initiative to the CES, thus allowing the Committee to issue opinions on its own initiatives which are then published in the Official Journal. The areas of mandatory advice were increased following the amendments to the EC treaties and the new powers granted to the Communities: in 1986 with the Single Act (harmonization of laws, research and technological development, environment), in 1992 with the Maastricht Treaty (trans-European networks, industries, cohesion funds, indirect taxation), and in 1997 with the Treaty of Amsterdam (employment, equal pay and working conditions, public health, consumer protection).The Committee is composed of advisors with a socio-economic background in the Community offices. Proposed by national governments, they are appointed individually by the Council of Ministers for a period of four years with the possibility of renewal, following a distribution that reflects the demographic situation of their country. The advisors are organized into three groups: employers, employees and other activities.

Historical Archives of the European Union (HAEU), Comité économique et social (CES)

Unrestricted access

141,6 linear m., 6613 files.

(OCoLC)811252757