In 1976, the Executive Council of the European Science Foundation decided to set up an ad-hoc Committee for Social Sciences in which the various branches of the social sciences would be represented. Under the chairmanship of Ralf Dahrendorf (Director of the London School of Economics) the Committee intended to specify those research priorities which could be suitable for European collaboration between several research groups supported on a national level. It met several times during the year, preparing some proposals and a report.
On the basis of this report, adopted by the Assembly, a Standing Committee for Social Sciences (SCSS) under the chairmanship of Professor Jean-Jacques Salomon was set up at the end of 1977.

The SCSS's mission is to initiate, support and promote high quality social science research in Europe involving research teams from the ESF Member Organisations, who serve as chairs or hold prominent positions in social science research councils and research institutions in their countries. This work is performed in specialized seminars, workshops and research programmes and a system of European networks.

Until 1982, the SCSS was used to meet three times a year before changing to bi-annual meetings to discuss about all its activities.

This serie contains the documents pertaining to the meetings of the SCSS including the minutes and the working documents enclosed for the meetings (papers, reports...). Also are included the documents of the Core Group of the SCSS. The Core Group, composed of Committee members, has the role to have a more pro-active role in policy making and agenda setting.