Meet the chairs of Parliament's committees
Committees are the powerhouses of the European Parliament’s legislative work. Find out who heads them up.
Parliament’s committees elected their chairs and vice-chairs at the start of the new legislative term in July 2024.
In December 2024, Parliament decided to upgrade the security and defence subcommittee and the public health subcommittee to fully-fledged committees.
Following this decision, Parliament has 22 standing committees and two subcommittees. The committees cover a wide range of policy areas from environment to international trade.
Committees are responsible for drafting Parliament's positions on legislative proposals, which are then discussed and voted on during a plenary session. They also prepare own-initiative reports, appoint negotiating teams to conduct talks with the Council, organise hearings with experts and scrutinise other EU institutions and bodies.
Just as with other posts such as Parliament president and vice-presidents, the chairs and vice-chairs of standing committees and sub-committees are elected for a period of two and-a-half years, so half of Parliament’s legislative term.
Parliament can also set up special or inquiry committees. Unlike standing committees, they are established for a given period of time that can be extended.
In December 2024 MEPs decided to establish two special committees:
- European Democracy Shield: this committee will work to develop recommendations about countering foreign interference, disinformation and threats against democracy.
- Housing crisis in the European Union: this committee will aim to come up with solutions addressing the shortage of affordable housing in the EU.