EU Committees Explained
How committee work shapes laws before they reach the full Parliament.
Why committees matter
Most of the detailed work on EU legislation happens in parliamentary committees, not in the full plenary. Committees hold hearings, debate amendments, and prepare the reports that Parliament votes on.
The 20 standing committees
The European Parliament has 20 standing committees covering areas like Foreign Affairs (AFET), Environment (ENVI), Internal Market (IMCO), Civil Liberties (LIBE), and Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON). Each committee has a chair and vice-chairs.
Rapporteurs and shadows
For each legislative file, the committee appoints a rapporteur who leads the work. Each political group appoints a shadow rapporteur to represent their position. The rapporteur drafts the committee report and negotiates with other groups.
Committee votes
After debating amendments, the committee votes on the final report. This report becomes the Parliament's negotiating position. If the committee and the rapporteur have the confidence of the plenary, the committee mandate is usually endorsed.