ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE CALLS FOR NEW CANDIDATE MEMBERS.

• Position: Brief Article

The special plenary session for the appointment of new members of the European Economic and Social Committee is scheduled for October 25, 2006 and the last plenary session of the current four-year term of office will be held on September 13 and 14. With these dates in mind, EESC President Anne-Marie Sigmund sent off a letter to EU heads of state and government of the twenty-five member states at the end of January calling for them to present their candidates as early as possible to allow sufficient time for the a consultation of the new Committee members with the Commission and other interested European bodies. Mrs Sigmund also stressed that the appointment should ensure the presence of the most representative and diverse organisations, so as to help the EESC to play an effective role as representative of organised civil society.

Under the terms of the Nice Treaty, the Committee has to include representatives of...