EESC gets a new president

The European Economic and Social Committee has just elected Swedish member, Mr Staffan Nilsson, as president of the consultative body for a two-and-a-half year term. The EESC leadership will include vice-president Ms Anna Maria Darmanin, a Maltese member now in charge of communication, and vice-president Mr Jacek Krawczyk, a Polish national responsible for the Committee's budget issues.

The EESC, a consultative body of the European Union, renews its membership at the inaugural session being held from 19 to 21 October. Of the 344 EESC members, 102 are sitting on the Committee for the first time.

In addition to running a farm in rural Sweden, President Staffan Nilsson was a long-time member of the board of the Federation of Swedish Farmers (LRF) and is a member of the board of the Swedish Cooperative Centre  (SCC) fighting poverty by helping people  help themselves. 

With experience in the fields of human resources and communication with various Maltese companies, vice-president Anna Maria Darmanin also lectures in her one-time alma mater, the University of Malta.

For his part,   vice-president Jacek Krawczyk, in charge of the EESC budget, has extensive hands-on business management skills acquired during his finance and business career at, among others, the European Cooperation Bank and at the Polish Development Bank. As a former professional pilot he is also a distinguished aviation expert.

Mr Nilsson presents his programme: 10.00 a.m., Thu 21 Oct, hemicycle, Paul-Henri Spaak Building, European Parliament

Press corner with Mr Nilsson and Ms Darmanin:  11.00 a.m., VIP 1 Room

Set up in 1957 by the Treaties of Rome, the EESC is made up of representatives of organisations of employers, of the employed, and of other parties representative of civil society, notably in socio-economic, civic, professional and cultural areas, from the 27 member States. Its main task is to advise the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Council primarily by issuing expert opinions on legislative proposals and on EU policies in a wide range of areas.

The Lisbon Treaty has strengthened the EESC consultative function and expanded the policy areas in which it must be consulted.

EESC members are appointed by the Council, in accordance with proposals made by each Member State, for a five year term. They do not receive a salary for their advisory work in Brussels.