CES - Conselho Económico e Social (Economic and Social Council)

CES is a constitutional body for consultation and social concertation. Its main goals are to promote the participation of economic and social agents in decision-making procedures at a macro-level, concerning social and economic policies. It comprises representatives for different areas - the government, social partners and the organised civil society (including autonomous regions and local government , as well as a NGO supporter of Women's Rights and Gender Equality). All decisions (exclusively consultative) have to be approved by the plenary. CES also comprises the Standing Committee for Social Concertation (CPCS), where CGTP and UGT are represented (unions' representation) and four employers' associations (CAP; CIP, CTP, CCP) for tripartite concertation purposes. In this case, the decisions taken do not require approval from the plenary, as CPCS enjoys autonomy in this regard.