What does the European Economic and Social Committee do?

What does the European Economic and Social Committee do? Its president, Oliver Röpke. is the guest of José-Manuel Lamarque.

franceinfo: The European Economic and Social Committee, what is it?

Oliver Röpke: It is important to present the European Economic and Social Committee, because the EESC is a special institution in Brussels. It is the only institution that represents civil society, in all Member States.

NOTWe have three groups in our committee: employers, workers and representatives of civil society organizations, who are together, who negotiate together, and we advise all the European institutions, first of all the Council, the Parliament and the Commission. And we are independent of these institutions.

How many associations and federations do you work with?

We have 329 members who represent, more or less, 250 organizations. Unions, employers’ organizations, but also other civil society organizations, consumers, farmers, human rights defenders…

Concretely, what is happening for Europeans, workers, for example, employees?

First of all, we can deliver our opinions on all the European Commission’s proposals. For example, the proposal for a minimum wage was two years ago. There was a discussion at European level and of course, we negotiated between the three groups, between the members. And afterwards, we gave our opinion to the European Commission. But even afterwards, on the concrete project, we gave our opinion. And of course, this is not binding. Europe is still democratic…

You say: theEurope is “still” democratic?

Yes, because it is a challenge, globally, but also in Europe, among the Member States, but also outside the European Union. And I think we have to be the voice of civil society, on human rights, fundamental rights and the rule of law, to check what the situation is for civil society, because there is the charter of fundamental rights…

So somewhere regarding democracy, you are in parallel with the Council of Europe, which also deals with democracy?

Yes, with the Council of Europe, but also with the European Commission. Every year we present the European Commission’s report on the rule of law, together, and I think this is a great opportunity, for us and for the committee, to highlight the important role of civil society. And my plan is to strengthen this role, and to look not only in the Member States, but also in the candidate States.

But you, Oliver Röpke, are the president of the European Economic and Social Committee. You give opinions, but you do not oblige the institutions, you do not oblige the Member States. Don’t you feel a little alone just giving opinions?

On the one hand, yes, on the other hand, it’s a great opportunity because we are not elected. We are representatives of civil society. It is clear, we cannot adopt the law, we can give opinions, but with the voice of many millions of citizens and civil society associations.

2024 means the European Parliament elections, the European elections. So you, you are independent, but of course, you will observe these elections and the result of the elections which may subsequently be important for the appointment of the president of the European Commission and of the Commission itself?

Of course, we are working with the European Parliament to increase participation in the elections, because participation is very low. For the democratic legitimacy of Parliament, greater participation in elections is important.

We work with Parliament, but also in the Member States, with our organizations, to inform colleagues, inform civil society, discuss with civil society. This is important because we were always in our committee, always pro-European. , and like that, I would say: we are representative.