The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is the voice of organised civil society in Europe. Members are for example employers, trade unionists and representatives of civil society organiations at large, such as social, occupational, economic and cultural organisations. They are appointed for renewable 5-year term by the Council on a proposal by Member States. Since 2024 it it possible to become “enlargement candidate members” (ECM) for civil society representatives from EU candidate countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye and Ukraine) to participate in the EESCs advisory work. The representatives contribute to the drafting process of selected EESC opinions, participate in relevant study groups, selection meetings and selected EESC Plenary Sessions.