Committees
Most of the work of the European Parliament (EP) is prepared and voted on in one of the EP's 20 specialised Committees before being considered by the Political Groups and going to the Plenary Session for debate and a final vote. MEPs are generally full members of at least one Committee and may be substitute members on at least one more.
The 20 EP Committees cover the following policy areas:
Subcommittees:
Special committees
European Parliament Committees
European Parliament Committees 2009 - 2014 (286KB)
Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET)
This Committee is responsible for:
- the common and foreign security policy (CFSP) and the European security and defence policy (ESDP). In this context, the committee is assisted by a subcommittee on security and defence.
- relations with other EU institutions and bodies, the UNO and other international organisations and interparliamentary assemblies for matters falling under its responsibility
- the strengthening of political relations with third countries, particularly those in the immediate vicinity of the Union, by means of major cooperation and assistance programmes or international agreements such as association and partnership agreements
- the opening, monitoring and concluding of negotiations concerning the accession of European States to the Union
- issues concerning human rights, the protection of minorities and the promotion of democratic values in third countries. In this context, the committee is assisted by a subcommittee on human rights. Without prejudice to the relevant rules, members from other committees and bodies with responsibilities in this field shall be invited to attend the meetings of the subcommittee.
The committee coordinates the work of joint parliamentary committees and parliamentary cooperation committees as well as that of the interparliamentary delegations and ad hoc delegations and election observation missions falling within its remit.
No Irish members
Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI)
This is a Sub-Committee of AFET (see above). It is responsible for:
- issues concerning human rights
- the protection of minorities
- the promotion of democratic values in third countries
No Irish members
Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE)
This is a Sub-Committee of AFET (see above). It is responsible for:
- the common foreign and security policy (CFSP)
- the European security and defence policy (ESDP)
No Irish members
Committee on Development (DEVE)
This Committee is responsible for:
• the promotion, implementation and monitoring of the development and cooperation policy of the Union, notably:
o political dialogue with developing countries, bilaterally and in the relevant international organisations
and interparliamentary fora
o aid to, and cooperation agreements with, developing countries
o promotion of democratic values, good governance and human rights in developing countries
• matters relating to the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement and relations with the relevant bodies
• Parliament's involvement in election observation missions, when appropriate in cooperation with other relevant committees and delegations
The Committee coordinates the work of the interparliamentary delegations and ad hoc delegations falling within its remit.
Irish member: Gay Mitchell (FG/EPP - Dublin)
Irish Substitute member: Proinsias De Rossa (Labour/S&D - Dublin)
Committee on International Trade (INTA)
This Committee is responsible for matters relating to the establishment and implementation of the Union's common commercial policy and its external economic relations, in particular:
- financial, economic and trade relations with third countries and regional organisations
- measures of technical harmonisation or standardisation in fields covered by instruments of international law
- relations with the relevant international organisations and with organisations promoting regional economic and commercial integration outside the Union
- relations with the WTO, including its parliamentary dimension.
The committee liaises with the relevant interparliamentary and ad hoc delegations for the economic and trade aspects of relations with third countries.
Irish member: Paul Murphy (SP/GUE-NGL - Dublin)
Committee on Budgets (BUDG)
This Committee is responsible for:
- the multiannual financial framework of the Union's revenue and expenditure and the Union's system of own resources
- Parliament's budgetary prerogatives, namely the budget of the Union as well as the negotiation and implementation of interinstitutional agreements in this field
- Parliament's estimates according to the procedure defined in the Rules
- the budget of the decentralised bodies
- the financial activities of the European Investment Bank
- the budget of the European Development Fund, without prejudice to the powers of the committee responsible for the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement
- financial implications and compatibility with the multiannual Financial Framework of all Community acts, without prejudice to the powers of the relevant committees
- keeping track of and assessing the implementation of the current budget, notwithstanding Rule 78(1), transfers of appropriations, procedures relating to the establishment of plans, administrative appropriations and opinions concerning buildings-related projects with significant financial implications
- the Financial Regulation, excluding matters relating to the implementation, management and control of the budget
No Irish members
Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT)
This Committee is responsible for:
- the control of the implementation of the budget of the Union and of the European Development Fund, and the decisions on discharge to be taken by Parliament, including the internal discharge procedure and all other measures accompanying or implementing such decisions
- the closure, presentation and auditing of the accounts and balance sheets of the Union, its institutions and any bodies financed by it, including the establishment of appropriations to be carried over and the settling of balances
- the control of the financial activities of the European Investment Bank
- monitoring the cost-effectiveness of the various forms of Community financing in the implementation of the Union's policies
- consideration of fraud and irregularities in the implementation of the budget of the Union, measures aimed at preventing and prosecuting such cases, and protection of the Union's financial interests in general
- relations with the Court of Auditors, the appointment of its members and consideration of its reports
- the Financial Regulation as far as the implementation, management and control of the budget are concerned
No Irish Members
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON)
This Committee is responsible for:
- the economic and monetary policies of the Union, the functioning of Economic and Monetary Union and the European monetary and financial system (including relations with the relevant institutions or organisations)
- the free movement of capital and payments (cross-border payments, single payment area, balance of payments, capital movements and borrowing and lending policies, control of movements of capital originating in third countries, measures to encourage the export of the Union's capital)
- the international monetary and financial system (including relations with financial and monetary institutions and organisations)
- rules on competition and State or public aid
- tax provisions
- the regulation and supervision of financial services, institutions and markets including financial reporting, auditing, accounting rules, corporate governance and other company law matters specifically concerning financial services
No Irish Members
Irish subsitute member: Gay Mitchell (FG/EPP - Dublin)
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL)
This Committee is responsible for:
- employment policy and all aspects of social policy such as working conditions, social security and social protection
- health and safety measures at the workplace
- the European Social Fund
- vocational training policy, including professional qualifications
- the free movement of workers and pensioners
- social dialogue
- all forms of discrimination at the workplace and in the labour market except those based on sex
- relations with:
- the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop)
- the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions
- the European Training Foundation
- the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work
- relations with other relevant EU bodies and international organisations
Irish Members: Proinsias De Rossa (Labour/S&D - Dublin); Marian Harkin (Ind./ALDE - North West)
Irish substitute Member: Paul Murphy(Socialist Party - Dublin)
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI)
This Committee is responsible for:
Environmental policy and environmental protection measures, in particular concerning:
- air, soil and water pollution, waste management and recycling, dangerous substances and preparations, noise levels, climate change, protection of biodiversity
- sustainable development
- international and regional measures and agreements aimed at protecting the environment
- restoration of environmental damage
- civil protection
- the European Environment Agency
- the European Chemicals Agency
Public health, in particular:
- programmes and specific actions in the field of public health
- pharmaceutical and cosmetic products
- health aspects of bioterrorism
- the European Medicines Agency and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
Food safety issues, in particular:
- the labelling and safety of foodstuffs
- veterinary legislation concerning protection against risks to human health; public health checks on foodstuffs and food production systems
- the European Food Safety Authority and the European Food and Veterinary Office
Irish member: Nessa Childers (Labour Party - East)
Irish substitute member: Mairead McGuinness (Fine Gael - East)
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE)
This Committee is responsible for:
- the Union's industrial policy and the application of new technologies, including measures relating to SMEs
- the Union's research policy, including the dissemination and exploitation of research findings
- space policy
- the activities of the Joint Research Centre and the Central Office for Nuclear Measurements, as well as JET, ITER and other projects in the same area
- community measures relating to energy policy in general, the security of energy supply and energy efficiency including the establishment and development of trans-European networks in the energy infrastructure sector
- the Euratom Treaty and Euratom Supply Agency; nuclear safety, decommissioning and waste disposal in the nuclear sector;
- the information society and information technology, including the establishment and development of trans-European networks in the telecommunication infrastructure sector
Irish member: Brian Crowley (Fianna Fáil - South)
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO)
This Committee is responsible for:
• coordination at Community level of national legislation in the sphere of the internal market and of the customs union, in particular:
o the free movement of goods including the harmonisation of technical standards
o the right of establishment
o the freedom to provide services except in the financial and postal sectors
• measures aiming at the identification and removal of potential obstacles to the functioning of the internal market
• the promotion and protection of the economic interests of consumers, except for public health and food safety issues, in the context of the establishment of the internal market
Irish member: Phil Prendergast (Labour/S&D - South)
Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN)
This Committee is responsible for:
• matters relating to the development of a common policy for rail, road, inland waterway, maritime and air transport, in particular:
o common rules applicable to transport within the European Union
o the establishment and development of trans-European networks in the area of transport
infrastructure
o the provision of transport services and relations in the field of transport with third countries
o transport safety
o relations with international transport bodies and organisations
• postal services
• tourism
Irish member: Jim Higgins (FG/EPP - North West)
Committee on Regional Development (REGI)
This Committee is responsible for regional and cohesion policy, in particular:
- the European Regional Development Fund, the Cohesion Fund and the other instruments of the Union's regional policy
- assessing the impact of other Union policies on economic and social cohesion
- coordination of the Union's structural instruments
- outermost regions and islands as well as trans-frontier and interregional cooperation
- relations with the Committee of the Regions, interregional cooperation organisations and local and regional authorities
- the urban dimension
Irish member: Seán Kelly (FG/EPP - South)
Irish substitute member: Pat the Cope Gallagher (FF/ALDE - North West)
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI)
This Committee is responsible for:
• the operation and development of the common agricultural policy
• rural development, including the activities of the relevant financial instruments
• legislation on:
o veterinary and plant-health matters, animal feeding stuffs provided such measures are not intended
to protect against risks to human health
o animal husbandry and welfare
• the improvement of the quality of agricultural products
• supplies of agricultural raw materials
• the Community Plant Variety Office
• forestry
Irish members: Liam Aylward (FF/ALDE - East); Mairead McGuinness (FG/EPP - East)
Irish substitute members: Marian Harkin (Ind./ALDE - North West); Phil Prendergast (Labour/S&D - South)
Committee on Fisheries (PECH)
This Committee is responsible for:
- the operation and development of the common fisheries policy and its management
- the conservation of fishery resources
- the common organisation of the market in fishery products
- structural policy in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, including the financial instruments for fisheries guidance
- international fisheries agreements
Irish member: Pat the Cope Gallagher (FF/ALDE - North West)
Irish substitute member: Jim Higgins (FG/EPP - North West)
Committee on Culture and Education (CULT)
This Committee is responsible for:
• the cultural aspects of the European Union, and in particular:
o improving the knowledge and dissemination of culture
o the protection and promotion of cultural and linguistic diversity
o the conservation and safeguarding of cultural heritage, cultural exchanges and artistic creation
• the Union's education policy, including the European higher education area, the promotion of the system of European schools and lifelong learning
• audiovisual policy and the cultural and educational aspects of the information society
• youth policy and the development of a sports and leisure policy
• information and media policy
• cooperation with third countries in the areas of culture and education and relations with the relevant international organisations and institutions
Irish substitute members: Liam Aylward (FF/ALDE - East); Nessa Childers (Labour/S&D - East); Sean Kelly (FG - South)
Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI)
This Committee is responsible for:
• the interpretation and application of European law, compliance of European Union acts with primary law, notably the choice of legal bases and respect for the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality
• the interpretation and application of international law, in so far as the European Union is affected
• the simplification of Community law, in particular legislative proposals for its official codification
• the legal protection of Parliament's rights and prerogatives, including its involvement in actions before the Court of Justice and the Court of First Instance
• Community acts which affect the Member States' legal order, namely in the fields of:
o civil and commercial law
o company law
o intellectual property law
o procedural law
• measures concerning judicial and administrative cooperation in civil matters
• environmental liability and sanctions against environmental crime
• ethical questions related to new technologies, applying the procedure with the relevant committees
• the Statute for Members and the Staff Regulations of the European Communities
• privileges and immunities as well as verification of Members' credentials
• the organisation and statute of the Court of Justice
• the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market
No Irish members
Irish substitute member: Brian Crowley (Fianna Fáil - South)
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE)
This Committee is responsible for:
• the protection within the territory of the Union of citizens' rights, human rights and fundamental rights, including the protection of minorities, as laid down in the Treaties and in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
• the measures needed to combat all forms of discrimination other than those based on sex or those occurring at the workplace and in the labour market
• legislation in the areas of transparency and of the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data
• the establishment and development of an area of freedom, security and justice, in particular:
o measures concerning the entry and movement of persons, asylum and migration
o measures concerning an integrated management of the common borders.
o measures relating to police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters.
• the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction and the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, Europol, Eurojust, Cepol and other bodies and agencies in the same area
• the determination of a clear risk of a serious breach by a Member State of the principles common to the Member States
No Irish members
Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO)
This Committee is responsible for:
- the institutional aspects of the European integration process, in particular in the framework of the preparation and proceedings of conventions and intergovernmental conferences
- the implementation of the EU Treaty and the assessment of its operation
- the institutional consequences of enlargement negotiations of the Union
- interinstitutional relations, including, in view of their approval by Parliament, examination of interinstitutional agreements pursuant to Rule 127(2) of the Rules of Procedure
- uniform electoral procedure
- political parties at European level, without prejudice to the competences of the Bureau
- the determination of the existence of a serious and persistent breach by a Member State of the principles common to the Member States
- the interpretation and application of the Rules of Procedure and proposals for amendments thereto
No Irish members
Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM)
This Committee is responsible for:
- the definition, promotion and protection of women's rights in the Union and related Community measures
- the promotion of women's rights in third countries
- equal opportunities policy, including equality between men and women with regard to labour market opportunities and treatment at work
- the removal of all forms of discrimination based on sex
- the implementation and further development of gender mainstreaming in all policy sectors
- the follow-up and implementation of international agreements and conventions involving the rights of women
- information policy on women
No Irish Members
Committee on Petitions (PETI)
This Committee is responsible for:
- petitions
- relations with the European Ombudsman
Irish substitute members: Mairead McGuinness (Fine Gael - East); Marian Harkin (Independent - North West); Jim Higgins (Fine Gael - North West); Phil Prendergast (Labour - South); Paul Murphy (Socialist Party - Dublin)
Special Committee on the Financial, Economic and Social Crisis (CRIS)
The responsibilities of this Special Committee are:
- to analyse and evaluate the extent of the financial, economic and social crisis, its impact on the Union and its Member States, and the state of world governance
- to propose appropriate measures for the long-term reconstruction of sound, stable financial markets able to support sustainable growth, social cohesion and employment at all levels
- to provide an assessment of the effect of those measures and the cost of inaction
- to analyse and evaluate the current implementation of Community legislation in all the areas concerned and the coordination of the measures taken by the Member States to support sustainable qualitative growth and long-term investment, with a view to combating unemployment and responding to demographic and climate challenges, while complying with the subsidiarity principle;
- with this end in view, to establish the necessary contacts and hold hearings with the European Union institutions, national, European and international institutions and forums, the national parliaments and governments of the Member States and of third countries, and representatives of the scientific community, business and civil society, including the social partners, in close collaboration with the standing committees
Irish member: Gay Mitchell (Fine Gael - Dublin)
Policy Challenges Committee (SURE)
The responsibilities of this Committee are:
- to define Parliament's political priorities for the post-2013 MFF, both in legislative terms and in budgetary terms
- to estimate the financial resources necessary for the Union to attain its objectives and carry out its policies for the period starting 1 January 2014
- to define the duration of the next MFF
- to propose, in accordance with those priorities and objectives, a structure for the future MFF, indicating the main areas of Union activity
- to submit guidelines for an indicative allocation of resources between and within the different headings of expenditure of the MFF in line with the priorities and proposed structure
- to specify the link between a reform of the financing system of the EU budget and a review of expenditure to provide the Committee on Budgets with a sound basis for negotiations on the new MFF
No Irish Members
