The Committee of European Science Research Councils (ESRC) (named Committee of West European Science Research Councils till its meeting in April 1977) was created at the Aarhus Conference held in February 1972, on the initiative of the Nordic natural science research councils and the Nederlandse Organisatie voor Zuiver-Westens-chappelijk Onderzoek (ZWO).
The ESRC is composed of national Member Organisations of the ESF which support basic research in natural sciences. According to its initial mandate of 1972 - which was confirmed by the ESF Assembly in October 1975 when the ESRC became a standing committee of the ESF - the Committee meets once a year providing a forum for representatives of the Research Councils to exchange information, ideas and experiences in their national science management, policy and funding.
The ESRC is also concerned with the harmonisation of administrative matters and the study of certain specific scientific subjects. In fact, it is the main ESF Committee responsible for ESF activities in natural sciences (previous Life and Environmental Sciences). And it contributes with initiatives and advice on project exploration for potential future European collaborative programmes.
To perfume specific tasks some ad hoc working groups are set up, consisting of experts in the respective fields.

In 1986 the ESRC Core Group is set-up at the ESRC meeting in Turkey with the remit to assist the Chairman in policy matters and evaluating Network proposals and to help sustain the ESRC activities between the annual ESRC meetings. This Core Group has 4 members and meets twice a year.
From 1989, the activities of the ESRC are carried out within a Framework Plan.
Following the ESF strategic reappraisal approved in 1993, the Assembly was asked to establish two new Standing Committees to replace the ESRC which would cease to exist: one for Life and Environmental Sciences (LESC) and the other for Physical and Engineering Sciences (PESC).