EESC: taking the pulse of workers and employers' organisations

Staffan Nilsson doesn't mind his organisation being criticised by MEPs; in fact he positively welcomes it. Mr Nilsson is the president of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), an advisory body that represents workers and employers as well as other interest groups. "[Criticism] actually gives us a good motivation to work better and also to explain better why the EU needs a non-political body composed of civil society leaders from member states, who are not politicians," he told us.

EESC was launched in 1957 to represent employers, workers and other professional associations and various civic groups with a focus on economy and social policies. It advises the Parliament, Commission and Council on the socio-economic impact of new legislation and must be consulted before any decisions are taking on economic and social policies.

As it is holding a plenary session in the EP building in Brussels on 13-14 February, we spoke to Mr Nilsson about the difference his organisation makes and the cooperation with the Parliament. The president of EESC said he was keen on even closer cooperation with the EP: "Before the creation of the Parliament and the establishment of direct elections of MEPs, we were the only body that represented the citizens' voice in the EU legislative process. Now, with the Lisbon Treaty, we have stronger relations with the EP, we must cooperate even more. "

Mr Nilsson stressed his organised not only offers grass-roots expertise in very diverse areas but also boasts an ability to compromise between social partners and other civil society organisations of consumers, farmers and other interests at large.

The EESC president said there should be more regular cooperation with the chairs of the EP committees. "We sometimes have different thoughts, different perspectives, but share the same goals to participate in the democratic life of the Union, to strengthen and build the link between authorities and citizens' needs, interests and concerns and thus to seek the best for the EU".

Further information

• (open in a new tab) European Economic and Social Committee