Economic and Social Council (France)

Institution

Heir to the economic national council created in 1925 by the Third Republic, removed by the Mode of Vichy, restored in 1946 under the name of Economic council and become Economic and Social Council in 1958. He is the third assembly installation by the constitution of October 4th, 1958, with the National Assembly and the Sénat.

Tiny room to an advisory, optional or obligatory function within the framework of the legislative process, this assembly allows however the representation at the national level of the professional organizations, and the communication between the various actors of the economy.

This socio-professional representation at the national level is transposed to the level of each regional territorial collectivity which also has a Consultative Assembly of the same type, the “regional Economic and Social Council” (CESR).

There exists also a Economic and Social Committee European (CEASE) on the level of the European Union.

In the constitution of 1958

Contain XI - The Economic and Social Council

Article 69

The Economic and Social Council, seized by the Government, delivers its opinion on the bills, of ordinance or decree as on the private bills which are subjected to him. A member of the Economic and Social Council can be indicated by this one to expose before the parliamentary assemblies the opinion of the Council on the projects or proposals which were submitted to him.

Article 70

The Economic and Social Council can be also consulted by the Government on any problem of economic or social nature. Any plan or any bill of program in economic or social matter is subjected to him for opinion.

Article 71

The composition of the Economic and Social Council and its operating rules are fixed by an organic law.

The organization

the Economic and Social Council consists of 231 advisers, appointed for 5 years by the professional organizations, except for 70 advisers named by the government. Moreover, the government names 72 " members of section" , which ensures for two years of the functions of expert near the sections where they are placed. Renewal of these " members of sections" is done annually per half. The Economic and Social Council is articulated in 9 sections, which are as much of " commissions parlementaires" specialized. Each section includes/understands between 27 and 29 advisers and 8 members of sections.

The nine sections are:

section of the general economic questions and the economic situation
section of finances
section of the social affairs
section of work
section of the foreign relations
section of agriculture and the food
section of the productive activities, research and technology
section of the regional economies and town and country planning
section of the framework of life

The sections prepare the reports/ratios and draft opinions which are then subjected to the solemn vote of the plenary assembly of THESE.

The plenary assembly meets normally every fifteen days, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon. These meetings, in which take part the members of the government in load of the sets of themes treated by THESE, are opened with the public and the press. Extraordinary meetings can also be convened.

Moreover, the Economic and Social Council has special trainings:

the delegation of the women's rights and of the equal opportunity between men and women
the delegation for the European Union
of the ad hoc committees in charge of the examination of particular topics.

Leaders

Since 1925, at the request of the working trade unions, a first assembly is created.

The successive presidents are:

Leon Jouhaux, first president,
Emile Rock, of 1954 to 1974,
Gabriel Ventejol, of 1974 to 1987,
Jean Mattéoli, former minister for Work and the Participation and former president of the Charbonnages de France, 1987 to 1999,
since September 28th, 1999, Jacques Dermagne, former president of the National council the Commercial.

The building

The Palate of Iéna, old National museum of Public works, is the chief of work of one of the major architects of our century: Auguste Perret. The construction of the building began in 1937 and continued until in 1946.

External bonds

Official site of these

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