This lunchtime I attended the launch of a very good book, just produced by the EESC, entitled Active Citizenship. As Vice-President with responsibility for communication, Anna Maria Darmanin, explained in her speech at the launch, ‘In this book, 24 EESC members talk about their personal contribution, as business people and trade unionists, campaigners and volunteers, revealing a vast and fascinating range of different interests and priorities. What they all have in common is that they express a sense of solidarity with others in society, and concern for their welfare.’ I particularly like the book because it gives a good cross-section of the Committee’s membership and, in so doing, provides examples of the authenticity of its members and hence demonstrates why the Committee is unique among the EU institutions – and its free upon request (the book, not the Committee)! The picture shows Anna Maria with our ever-excellent head of communication, Peter Lindvald Nielsen, whose team provided the technical and journalistic back-up that made the book possible. Well done everybody!