European Economic and Social Committee

European Economic and Social Committee logo

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is a retirement home for veteran officials and social partners. Its canteen is conveniently located at the Committee of the Regions (best buffet in town!).

The EESC can be consulted by the European Commission and the Council of the European Union whenever they feel lonely or if they are running out of scrap paper. In fact, according to Eurostat, the least-read documents in the EU sort by decreasing popularity are:
– domestic appliances instructions
– website’s cookie disclaimer
– End-user license agreement for software
– EESC opinions

Among the biggest successes of the EESC we find:
– the contribution given in establishing the Internal Market (1957-1993)
– changing its abbreviation from EcoSoc to EESC (last three decades)

Members of the European Parliament, the Council and even of the Committee of Regions criticized the utility of the EESC, which harshly replied: “It’s like the pot calling the kettle black”.