Regional and sectoral economic councils
Regional and sectoral economic councils are bodies set up at regional or sectoral level to promote democratic participation in economic decision-making. They consist of representatives of various social groups, including employees, employers, trade unions, civil society organisations and often also government representatives. The aim of these councils is to shape and steer economic policy and economic development in their respective region or sector.
The councils often work to reduce social and economic inequalities, promote sustainable development and strengthen economic resilience. They are an important instrument of economic democracy, as they increase the influence of citizens on economic decisions and ensure that decisions are made in the interests of society as a whole.
Practical examples:
Transformation councils:
A concrete example of regional and sectoral economic councils are the transformation councils proposed by the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation. Transformation councils are intended to play a central role in the socio-ecological transformation of the economy. They are intended as platforms that bring together various stakeholders to work together on the design and implementation of transformation processes.
The transformation councils consist of representatives of employees, employers, science, civil society and politics. Their main tasks include developing strategies to manage the ecological and digital transformation, ensuring good working conditions and promoting innovation and investment in sustainable technologies.
A special feature of these transformation councils is their participatory structure. This ensures that the various interests and perspectives of the actors involved are taken into account and that the transformation is organised in a fair and inclusive manner. By involving the various stakeholders, the transformation councils should help to minimise conflicts and find viable solutions that are both ecologically and socially sustainable.
The DGB and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung emphasise that transformation councils should be established at all relevant levels - at national, regional and local level. This should take into account the specific conditions and needs of the various regions and sectors so that the transformation can be broadly supported and effectively organised.
