The Antecedents, Origins and Creation of the European Economic and Social Committee. Bruges Political Research Papers 52/2016

Westlake, Martin (2016) The Antecedents, Origins and Creation of the European Economic and Social Committee. Bruges Political Research Papers 52/2016. [Policy Paper]

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Abstract

Europe’s emerging nation states became complex societies and economies long before they became parliamentary democracies enjoying universal suffrage. This paper traces the historic trends which led to the institutionalisation of advisory functions of various forms and functions, from economic and labour planning through interest representation to social dialogue. Notably, Italy, Germany and France all experimented with such institutional approaches in the immediate post-First World War period. The conceptual high water mark came with the Weimar Republic’s envisaged twin-chamber approach (never implemented). The model lived on and was consolidated in post-Second World War France, Belgium and the Netherlands, leading to the provisions for such an advisory body in the Treaty of Rome – today’s European Economic and Social Committee.

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