The ESCs as an Institution
The ESCs as an institution began to develop in the 1950s on the national level and were adopted by the Treaty of Rome for the European Economic Community. Since then, they have rapidly grown in most countries of the Community. More recently ESCs were also established in the countries of Eastern Europe as part of the enlargement process, as well as in third Mediterranean countries, for which they have been an important mechanism for direct cooperation with the European Union.
The European Economic and Social Committee, one
of the institutions of the European Union, was
established in 1957 and held its inaugural session in
1958. Successive enlargements of the European Union
gradually increased the number of its members, while
the successive Treaties provided it with more and more
important competencies. The main task of the ESC is to
issue opinions, which it submits to the Commission, the
European Parliament and the Council. An ESC may issue
opinions relating to all sectors during the European
legislative process or elaborate opinions on its own
initiative.
The Greek ESC was established in 1994, based on the model of the ESC of the European Union: tripartite division of the interests represented, i.e. a division into three groups, one of employers/entrepreneurs, one of private and public sector employees, and one including the other categories, such as farmers, selfemployed people, local government and consumers.
As of May 2001, the Greek ESC has become a
constitutionally recognised institution of the Greek
state.
Article 82, paragraph 3 of the Constitution provides that “The law determines the issues related to the formation, operation and competencies of the Economic and Social Council, whose mission is to conduct the social dialogue on the country's general policy and in particular on economic and social policy guidelines, as well as to formulate opinions on government bills or MPs' law proposals referred to it.”
The objective of the ESC is to promote the social dialogue and through it to formulate (if possible) mutually acceptable positions on issues of concern to society as a whole or specific social groups.
The aim of the ESC is not to curb different ideological and political views, but to reach and/or highlight, by putting forward various arguments and proposals, the consensus on social and economic issues, if it exists or can be created.
Through its proposals and opinions, it also seeks to maximize the social benefit or minimise any possible negative effects of decisions taken by executive and legislative powers.