Leila KurkiTwo facts of political life at the EESC are that members come and go (there is about a thirty per cent turnover rate with each new mandate) and that office holders change (this is strongly ingrained in the Committee’s culture). Today I attended a bitter-sweet occasion. Leila Kurki (Workers’ Group, Finland), who has served the Committee well as a committed and active member and as a dynamic President of its Section for Social Affairs and Employment, said farewell to her staff. Leila’s term as Section President will shortly come to an end, but she will also shortly thereafter be leaving the Committee. It was typical of Leila’s attentiveness that she had a word to say about each of the members of staff who had worked with her and a simple but symbolic present for everybody. We will miss her.