Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO)

Source: Europa Nu.

The Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) consists of the Ministers (or State Secretaries) of Employment, Social Affairs, Health and/or Consumer Affairs of the Member States of the European Union.

In the Council of the European Union, the ministers from the EU Member States take a joint decision on the policy to be implemented within the EU. The Council is supported by the Committee of Permanent Representatives, which prepares decisions and guards the implementation and adherence of the decisions monitored by the Council.

1.

History

The Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council is the result of a merger of the Employment, Social Policy and Health Countils, back in June 2002. Since the merger, the council configuration also holds supervision on topics related to consumer protection, originally a component of the Internal Market-, Consumers- and Tourism Council.

2.

Relevant policy fields

  • employment and social policy
  • food safety
  • public health
  • consumer policy
  • regional policy