The Committees of the European Parliament 

In order to do the preparatory work for Parliament’s plenary sittings, Members are divided up among 20 standing committees specialising in different policy areas.

A committee consists of between 25 and 90 MEPs, and has a chair, vice-chairs and a secretariat. The political makeup of the committees reflects that of the plenary assembly.

The parliamentary committees meet once or twice a month, usually in Brussels. Their debates are held in public and are webstreamed.

The committees draw up, amend and adopt legislative proposals and own-initiative reports. They consider Commission and Council proposals and, where necessary, draw up reports to be presented to the plenary assembly.

Parliament can also set up standing sub-committees and special temporary committees to deal with specific issues.

In addition, the European Parliament is empowered to create formal committees of inquiry under its supervisory remit to investigate allegations of maladministration of EU law.

The committee chairs coordinate the work of the committees in the Conference of Committee Chairs.