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Committees of the European Parliament

European Union legislative working groups

The committees of the European Parliament are designed to examine proposals in detail before the matter is dealt with by the full Parliament. They comprise Standing Committees and occasional Temporary Committees or Committees on Inquiry.

Each committee is composed to reflect the overall political balance of the Parliament as a whole, with seats allocated to each of the political Groups in proportion to their size. Each committee also has substitute members who may vote in place of an absent full member from their political Group.

Standing Committees generally produce reports for consideration by Parliament in its debates. These can be on legislative proposals from the European Commission, or "own initiative reports" on a matter which the committee wishes to take up. Reports are usually drafted by a rapporteur, who is appointed by the committee, selected from amongst its members. The rapporteur's draft is voted on by the committee, typically with amendments being tabled and voted on. The report as adopted by the committee is then presented to the full Parliament for debate and vote.

Chairs and Vice Chairs

Each committee elects its own Chair and Vice Chairs. Traditionally, political groups in the Parliament have reached an agreement to share such posts among them (while excluding extremist parties) in proportion to their size (calculated according to the D'Hondt method). Committee members have usually, but not always, followed the recommendations of the political Groups.

Legislative reports

Before drafting legislative proposals, the European Commission will consult the various standing committees before formally submitting its proposal to the Parliament and the Council to initiate the European Union legislative procedure.

At the start of the legislative procedure, Parliament designates one committee as the responsible committee, though other committees may submit their own opinions to it. Occasionally, when the subject matter cuts across the responisibilties of more than one committee, joint committee meetings can be provided for or, exceptionally, an ad hoc committee to deal with a specific legislative proposal.

Reports on legislative proposals normally comprise draft amendments to the legislative proposal and a draft resolution containing a recommendation to accept or reject the proposal. These are voted on by Parliament, along with any amendments tabled by political groups or one-twentieth of the individual members.

The same committee(s) will be responsible in any second or third reading of the proposal, and will also provide the members who represent Parliament in any inter-institutional negotiations with the Council seeking to reconcile the position of the two institutions which jointly constitute the EU legislature.

Non-legislative reports and Own-Initiative Reports

Committees are also able to produce non-legislative reports relevant to their competence. The appointed rapporteur is responsible for preparing the report, and presenting it to Parliament on the committee's behalf. These reports must include a motion for a resolution, an explanatory statement, and must also outline financial implications. These can be own-initiative reports requesting the Commission to draft legislative proposals for consideration by the Parliament and the Council. Before drawing up any such report, a committee must obtain the permission of the Conference of Presidents. The Conference of Presidents has two months to make a decision, and any reasons for withholding permission must always be stated.

Cross-committee co-operation

When drawing up a report, a committee may ask the opinion of another committee on the matter, particularly if it is felt that a proposed amendment would fall into the interests of another committee. The committee asked for an opinion will be named as such in the final report. The chair and drafter of the secondary committee may be invited to take part in any committee discussions held by the primary committee, where the meeting deals with the matter that the secondary committee is advising on.

Amendments that are proposed by the secondary committee will be voted on by the committee responsible for producing the report.

If the Conference of Presidents decides that a requested report falls equally to two committees, both committees will agree upon a joint timetable, and shall work together in producing the report.

List of standing committees

This is a list of standing committees along with the respective chairperson as of July 2024.

Committee	Members	Chair	Vice Chairs	1st half of term
(2024-2027)	2nd half of term
(2027-2029)	1st half of term
(2024-2027)	2nd half of term
(2027-2029)
Committee on Foreign Affairs	AFET	79	European People's Party}}"		EPP	David McAllister	GER	Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats}}"
Renew Europe}}"		RE	Urmas Paet	EST
European Conservatives and Reformists}}"		ECR	Alberico Gambino	ITA
European People's Party}}"		EPP	Ioan-Rareș Bogdan	ROM
	Subcommittee on Security and Defence	SEDE	30	Renew Europe}}"		RE	Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann	GER
Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats}}"		S&D	Mihai Tudose	ROM
European Conservatives and Reformists}}"		ECR	Alberico Gambino	ITA
European People's Party}}"		EPP	Riho Terras	EST
Subcommittee on Human Rights	DROI	30	Greens–European Free Alliance}}"		G/EFA	Mounir Satouri	FRA	Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats}}"
European People's Party}}"		EPP	Łukasz Kohut	POL
Vacant
Vacant
Committee on Development	DEVE	25	Renew Europe}}"		RE	Barry Andrews	IRE	Greens–European Free Alliance}}"
European People's Party}}"		EPP	Hildegard Bentele	GER
Renew Europe}}"		RE	Abir Al-Sahlani	SWE
Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats}}"		S&D	Robert Biedroń	POL
Committee on International Trade	INTA	43	Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats}}"		S&D	Bernd Lange	GER	The Left in the European Parliament – GUE/NGL}}"
European People's Party}}"		EPP	Iuliu Winkler	ROM
Renew Europe}}"		RE	Karin Karlsbro	SWE
Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats}}"		S&D	Kathleen Van Brempt	BEL
Committee on Budgets	BUDG	40	European Conservatives and Reformists}}"		ECR	Johan Van Overtveldt	BEL	European People's Party}}"
Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats}}"		S&D	Giuseppe Lupo	ITA
European People's Party}}"		EPP	Janusz Lewandowski	POL
Renew Europe}}"		RE	Lucia Yar	SVK
Committee on Budgetary Control	CONT	30	European People's Party}}"		EPP	Niclas Herbst	GER	European People's Party}}"
European Conservatives and Reformists}}"		ECR	Cristian Terheș	ROM
Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats}}"		S&D	Claudiu Manda	ROM
Vacant
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs	ECON	60	Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats}}"		S&D	Aurore Lalucq	FRA	Greens–European Free Alliance}}"
Renew Europe}}"		RE	Ľudovít Ódor	SVK
European People's Party}}"		EPP	Luděk Niedermayer	CZE
European Conservatives and Reformists}}"		ECR	Marlena Maląg	POL
	Subcommittee on Tax Matters	FISC	30	The Left in the European Parliament – GUE/NGL}}"		LEFT	Pasquale Tridico	ITA
European People's Party}}"		EPP	Regina Doherty	IRE
European People's Party}}"		EPP	Markus Ferber	GER
Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats}}"		S&D	Matthias Ecke	GER
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs	EMPL	60	The Left in the European Parliament – GUE/NGL}}"		LEFT	Li Andersson	FIN	Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats}}"
European People's Party}}"		EPP	Jagna Marczułajtis-Walczak	POL
Greens–European Free Alliance}}"		G/EFA	Katrin Langensiepen	GER
Vacant
Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety	ENVI	90	Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats}}"		S&D	Antonio Decaro	ITA	European People's Party}}"
European Conservatives and Reformists}}"		ECR	Pietro Fiocchi	ITA
European United Left–Nordic Green Left}}"		LEFT	Anja Hazekamp	NED
European People's Party}}"		EPP	András Tivadar Kulja	HUN
	Subcommittee on Public Health	SANT	30	European People's Party}}"		EPP	Adam Jarubas	POL
Renew Europe}}"		RE	Stine Bosse	DEN
Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats}}"		S&D	Romana Jerković	CRO
European Conservatives and Reformists}}"		ECR	Emmanouil Fragkos	GRE
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy	ITRE	90	European People's Party}}"		EPP	Borys Budka	POL	Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats}}"
European Conservatives and Reformists}}"		ECR	Elena Donazzan	ITA
Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats}}"		S&D	Giorgio Gori	ITA
Renew Europe}}"		RE	Yvan Verougstraete	BEL
Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection	IMCO	52	Greens–European Free Alliance}}"		G/EFA	Anna Cavazzini	GER	European People's Party}}"
Renew Europe}}"		RE	Nikola Minchev	BUL
Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats}}"		S&D	Maria Grapini	ROM
European People's Party}}"		EPP	Kamila Gasiuk-Pihowicz	POL
Committee on Transport and Tourism	TRAN	46	European People's Party}}"		EPP	Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi	GRE	Greens–European Free Alliance}}"
European People's Party}}"		EPP	Sophia Kircher	AUT
The Left in the European Parliament – GUE/NGL}}"		LEFT	Elena Kountoura	GRE
Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats}}"		S&D	Matteo Ricci	ITA
Committee on Regional Development	REGI	41	Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats}}"		S&D	Dragoș Benea	ROM	European People's Party}}"
Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats}}"		S&D	Nora Mebarek	FRA
European Conservatives and Reformists}}"		ECR	Francesco Ventola	ITA
Renew Europe}}"		RE	Ľubica Karvašová	SVK
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development	AGRI	49	European Conservatives and Reformists}}"		ECR	Veronika Vrecionová	CZE	European People's Party}}"
European People's Party}}"		EPP	Norbert Lins	GER
Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats}}"		S&D	Eric Sargiacomo	FRA
Vacant
Committee on Fisheries	PECH	27	European People's Party}}"		EPP	Carmen Crespo Díaz	ESP	European People's Party}}"
European Conservatives and Reformists}}"		ECR	Giuseppe Milazzo	ITA
Renew Europe}}"		RE	Stéphanie Yon-Courtin	FRA
European People's Party}}"		EPP	Jessica Polfjärd	SWE
Committee on Culture and Education	CULT	30	Greens–European Free Alliance}}"		G/EFA	Nela Riehl	GER	European People's Party}}"
Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats}}"		S&D	Emma Rafowicz	FRA
Greens–European Free Alliance}}"		G/EFA	Diana Riba	ESP
Renew Europe}}"		RE	Hristo Petrov	BUL
Committee on Legal Affairs	JURI	25	Renew Europe}}"		RE	Ilhan Kyuchyuk	BUL	European People's Party}}"
European Conservatives and Reformists}}"		ECR	Mario Mantovani	ITA
Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats}}"		S&D	Lara Wolters	NED
European People's Party}}"		EPP	Emil Radev	BUL
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs	LIBE	75	European People's Party}}"		EPP	Javier Zarzalejos	ESP	Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats}}"
European Conservatives and Reformists}}"		ECR	Charlie Weimers	SWE
Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats}}"		S&D	Alessandro Zan	ITA
The Left in the European Parliament – GUE/NGL}}"		LEFT	Estrella Galán	ESP
Committee on Constitutional Affairs	AFCO	30	European People's Party}}"		EPP	Sven Simon	GER	Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats}}"
European People's Party}}"		EPP	Adrián Vázquez Lázara	ESP
Renew Europe}}"		RE	Charles Goerens	LUX
European People's Party}}"		EPP	Péter Magyar	HUN
Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality	FEMM	40	Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats}}"		S&D	Lina Gálvez	ESP	Renew Europe}}"
The Left in the European Parliament – GUE/NGL}}"		LEFT	Irene Montero	ESP
European People's Party}}"		EPP	Rosa Estaràs Ferragut	ESP
Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats}}"		S&D	Predrag Fred Matić	CRO
Committee on Petitions	PETI	35	European Conservatives and Reformists}}"		ECR	Bogdan Rzońca	POL	European People's Party}}"
European People's Party}}"		EPP	Fredis Beleris	GRE
Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats}}"		S&D	Nils Ušakovs	LAT
Greens–European Free Alliance}}"		G/EFA	Cristina Guarda	ITA
Sources:

Special committees

Under Rule 213 of its rules of procedure, the Parliament may at any time set up special committees for specific reports for an initial period of no longer than 12 months. Examples of such special committees have been:

The temporary committee on the Echelon interception system (2000–01)
The temporary committee on the alleged use of European countries by the CIA for the transport and illegal detention of prisoners (2006–07)
Special committee on the EU authorisation procedure for pesticides (2018)
Special committee on foreign interference in the democratic processes of the European Union (2020–23)
Special committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union (2025-26)

Committees of Inquiry

The European Parliament was granted the right to create temporary committees of inquiry under Article 226 of the 1993 Maastricht Treaty. This in fact recognised an existing practice, as the Parliament had created nine committees of inquiry in the period between the introduction of direct elections in 1979 and the inclusion of this legal basis in the treaty. They were:

Year	Committee
1983	The Seveso disaster
1984	The rise of fascism and racism. The committee's work led to the 'Joint Declaration against racism and xenophobia'.
1985	The drugs problem
1986	Agricultural stocks
1988	The Transnuklear scandal
1988	Hormones in meat
1991	Racism and Xenophobia (The application of the Joint Declaration against racism and xenophobia)
1991	Trans-frontier crime linked to drug trafficking.

Since then, under Article 226 of the 1993 Maastricht Treaty, the Inquiry Committees since 1995 have been:

EP	Year	Abbrev	Committee of inquiry	Chairperson	Rapporteur
Fourth	1996-1997	TRANSIT	Temporary Committee of Inquiry into the Community Transit System	John Tomlinson	Edward Kellett-Bowman
Fourth	1996-1997	ESB I	Temporary Committee of Inquiry into BSE (Bovine spongiform encephalopathy)	Reimer Böge	Manuel Medina Ortega
Sixth	2006-2007	EQUI	Temporary Committee of Inquiry into the Crisis of the Equitable Life Assurance Society	Mairead McGuinness	Diana Wallis
Eighth	2015	EMIS	on the measurement of emissions in the automotive sector, established on 17 December 2015, whose work was finalised on 4 April 2017. See Dieselgate.	Kathleen Van Brempt	Pablo Zalba Bidegain, Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy
Eighth	2016	PANA	on money laundering, tax avoidance and tax fraud, established on 8 June 2016, whose work was finalised on 13 December 2017. See Panama Papers.	Werner Langen	Jeppe Kofod, Petr Ježek
Ninth	2020	ANIT	on the Protection of animals during transport, established on 19 June 2020.	Tilly Metz	Daniel Buda, Isabel Carvalhais
Ninth	2022	PEGA	On the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware, established on 10 March 2022. See Pegasus Project (investigation).	Jeroen Lenaers	Sophie in 't Veld

Delegations

MEPs also compose delegations to various Parliaments outside of the European Union. Joint parliamentary committees are set up with candidate countries. There are also delegations to the ACP–EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly and the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly and the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly.

North Macedonia
Turkey
Mexico
Chile
Switzerland, Iceland and Norway and European Economic Area
Russia
South-East Europe
Ukraine
Moldova
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Mongolia
Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia
Belarus
Israel
Palestine
Maghreb
Mashreq
Arabian Peninsula
Iran
United States
Canada
Central America
Andean Community
Mercosur
Japan
People's Republic of China
Southeast Asia, ASEAN
Korean peninsula
Australia and New Zealand
South Africa
NATO
South Asia
India
Afghanistan
Pan-African Parliament
Caribbean Forum

Conference of Committee Chairs and Conference of Delegation Chairs

Two bodies in the Parliament are the Conference of Committee Chairs (CCC) and the Conference of Delegation Chairs (CDC). The Conference of Committee Chairs is the political body in Parliament that organises cooperation between the committees and consists of the chairs of all the standing and special committees. The Conference of Delegation Chairs is the political body in Parliament that periodically considers all matters concerning the smooth running of interparliamentary delegations and delegations to the joint parliamentary committees. They may make recommendations to the Conference of Presidents and can be instructed to carry out particular tasks by the Bureau or Conference of Presidents.

References

"The Parliamentary Committees" in ''The European Parliament'' (10th ed, 2024) Corbett, Jacobs and Neville, John Harper Publishing, {{ISBN. 978-1-7391436-5-7
"List of Committees". [[European Parliament]].
(17 July 2024). "Parliament confirms the list and size of its committees and delegations". EP.
(23 July 2024). "Committee Chairs and Vice-Chairs elected". EP.
[https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-9-2021-0350_EN.html REPORT on the investigation of alleged contraventions and maladministration in the application of Union law in relation to the protection of animals during transport within and outside the Union]
[http://www.europarl.europa.eu/intcoop/eurolat/default_en.htm Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly]
[http://www.europarl.europa.eu/parliament/public/staticDisplay.do?id=45&pageRank=6&language=EN Delegations]
[http://www.europarl.europa.eu/activities/committees/confPres.do?language=EN Conference of Committee Chairs]
link. (31 May 2009)

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