A senior academic in the University of Ulster has been elected to a prestigious European post.

Michael Smyth, Head of School of Economics, (pictured) has been made President of the ECO (Economic and Monetary Union) section of the European Economic and Social Committee, one the most influential organisations in the European Union.

The EESC is a consultative body that gives representatives of Europe's socio-occupational interest groups, and others, a formal platform to express their points of views on EU issues.

Its opinions are forwarded to the larger institutions - the Council, the Commission and the European Parliament, and because it also scrutinished legislation passing through the European Parliament, it thus has a key role to play in the Union's decision-making process.

"This is a seat at the top table," said Mr Smyth. "As President of ECO, I will have access to all the key decision-makers in the European Commission and Parliament."

Mr Smyth said that an early priority for his two and a half year tenure of the role is to establish strong links with influential think tanks and policy institutes throughout the European Union, to ensure that ECO and the EESC are at the forefront of thought and action in the fields of economic and social policy, rather than - as in the past - reacting to events.

The university academic takes up office on October 1st.

(BMcC/GK)