This a textbook and reference guide, written by a former Secretary-General, to the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), the 350-member Brussels-based body which brings together representatives of organised civil society (employers, trade unions and other interests) from all 28 EU member states and has a consultative role with the EU legislative institutions. The book systematically explains the EESCs powers, internal structures and procedures, and how it works with other institutions and outside stakeholders, both in theory and practice. The book includes a photo section of current and former leading figures in the EESC. The author, Martin Westlake, was Secretary-General of the EESC, 2008-2013.
1. A unique body: what the European Economic and Social Committee is and what it does
2. The Committees members
3. The Presidency
4. The Bureau and the Assembly
5. The Groups (and the Categories)
6. The Sections, the Consultative Commission, the Subcommittees, the Observatories
7. The Committees working methods
8. Cooperation with the EUs institutions and other bodies
9. The EESC and national economic and social councils
10. The Committee and external relations
11. The budget
12. Civil dialogue, participatory democracy and constitutional reform
13. Communication
14. The Secretariat-General and the Committees buildings
Bibliography
Subject index
Names index
Photo section