Friday 22 August 2008

German industry lobbyist new member of EESC

Found at European Agenda:

Bernd Dittmann, Managing Director of the German Business Representation in Brussel, has become a new member of the Economic and Social Committtee (EESC) of the European Union.

In February, Expatica.com wrote about him:
Bernd Dittmann is in charge of a representation with offices on seven levels. Having chaired the Federation of German Industries (BDI) for 10 years he is a veteran of the Brussels scene.

2 comments:

Ralf Grahn said...

If the post was meant to raise protest, it failed to rally me. The advisory Economic and Social Committee has a decidedly corporatist structure, by design.

According to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Article 257, it consists of 'in particular representatives of producers, farmers, carriers, workers, dealers, craftsmen, professional occupations, consumers and the general interest', collectively described as representatives of the various economic and social components of organised civil society.

Like the Committee of the Regions, the ESC gives certain interests a voice in the legislative process of the European Community.

Even without a mandatory role, these (and other) interests would have to be consulted one way or the other, wouldn't they?

Julien Frisch said...

In fact, it wasn't meant to raise protest. The term "lobbyist" was used descriptive, not judgmental. We will hardly find non-lobbyist in the ESC... :-)

However, I found it worth mentioning because Dittmann is representing both, the industry and business sector of the biggest economy of the European Union, and him being member of the ESC will very probably raise the German Industry's influence.

But to be very honest, this news was in first place a good opportunity to raise some attention to the ESC, which is not in the focus of media or blogs too often... :-)