After its reform, the Economic, Social and Environmental Council wants to relaunch dialogue with civil society

Analysis. The Palais d’Iéna, which has housed the third assembly of the Republic in Paris since 1959, is closed. The Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE), a consultative body of civil society on which associations and unions of employees and employers sit, suffers from a lack of audience. His current vacancy dates back to March 31, the date of the end of Patrick Bernasconi’s mandate. On May 18, a renewed assembly will take place. The EESC of the world of yesterday is dead, what will the EESC of tomorrow look like?

On July 3, 2017, Emmanuel Marcon launched an ambitious constitutional reform project providing for a profound transformation of the EESC. Very quickly, it appeared that the president would not have the qualified majority required to complete this project. In July 2018, the Benalla case interrupted its examination. Mr. Bernasconi was relieved. He feared the suppression of what he called, since his election, the 1^er December 2015, his “little France”, deemed expensive, inaudible and, frankly, useless by many politicians. For the former vice-president of Medef, this “Super reform” had to do the EESC “The spearhead of participatory democracy”, by giving more weight to citizens’ voices.

“The EESC was in very great danger, it was necessary that it seize the reform to save the furniture. This is the Bernasconi reform ”, observes Pascale Coton, former vice-president (CFTC) of the EESC.

Mr. Bernasconi dreamed of a “Real revolution”, a risky bet given the mistrust, even hostility, of the Head of State with regard to intermediary bodies and first of all unions. Mr. Macron wanted to make “The crossroads of public consultations”. The reform introduced compulsory referral to bills, plans and programming of an economic, social and environmental nature.

The organic law of January 15, 2021 provides that the EESC “May be seized by petition of any question of an economic, social and environmental nature”. This petition, which must be presented by at least 150,000 people – Eric Dupond-Moretti, the Keeper of the Seals, has lowered the age of petitioners from 18 to 16 – may lead to the vote of an opinion by the EESC which will be addressed to the Prime Minister and to the presidents of the other two assemblies.

A number of members reduced to 175

You have 60.88% of this article to read. The rest is for subscribers only.