Séamus Boland has been appointed President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), the EU’s consultative body for employers’ associations, trade unions and civil society organisations.
He promised to put his “heart and soul” into civil society at the heart of the European Union.
“There’s a lot of talk about defending Europe, and we should”, he said in his first speech as president.
“But we need to know the Europe that we are defending. And the Europe’s we’re defending is the Europe – it’s not just the biggest peace project on the planet – it’s also the biggest social justice, equality and humanity project.”
The EESC was set up in the 1950s to make sure that interest groups including NGOs and trade unions were represented in EU decision making.
It’s headquarters are right next door to the European Parliament in Brussels.
Séamus Boland, a former farmer, has been an Irish representative at the EESC for 13 years.
He has worked in civil society for over 40 years, including with young people, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and people living in rural isolation, the EESC said.
Setting out his mandate as president, Séamus Boland said he would speak up for young people trying to get on the housing ladder and efforts across Europe to eradicate poverty, social exclusion and inequality.
“Europe must be – so far as I’m concerned – a Europe of opportunities. We need to create a Europe that we can live in, a Europe that balances economic growth and inclusion at the same time, and ensures that we don’t dumb down the rights in terms of skills, in terms of worker rights.”
The EESC is made up of 329 Members from across the EU’s 27 member states. They are nominated by their national governments and appointed by the Council of the European Union.
“Members work independently in the interests of all EU citizens. They are employers, trade unionists and representatives of various sectors of society, such as farming, consumer and environmental organisations, the social economy, SMEs, professionals, and associations representing persons with disabilities, the voluntary sector, gender equality, youth, academia, and others”, the EESC says.
Séamus Boland’s terms as president will run until 2028.