By Marc Planas & Charles Patterson | Brussels, European Union

During the Plenary Session held last week (20-23 January), the European Parliament announced the much awaited composition of four new committees: the upgraded Committees on Public Health (SANT) and Security and Defence (SEDE), as well as two special committees to deal with housing (HOUS) and the so-called ‘Democracy Shield’ (EUDS). This announcement follows the vote in late 2024 which officially created the committees, following the recommendation by the EP’s Conference of Presidents.

The committees of the European Parliament play a key role in shaping the institution’s stance on legislative proposals. They draft positions, prepare own-initiative reports, host expert hearings, and oversee the activities of other EU institutions and bodies, among other responsibilities. Following these changes, the Parliament will now operate 22 fully-fledged committees, two subcommittees (whose work is overseen by a ‘parent standing committee), and two special committees. Many of these committees will be chaired by members of the centre-right EPP group, the largest political group in the EP.

Defence and health in the spotlight to address key challenges

With this reform, both SEDE and SANT will cease to be subordinate to their ‘parent’ committees on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), respectively. These will see their mandates adapted to reflect the new changes.

The decision to establish a committee on defence highlights the urgency of strengthening Europe’s security architecture in light of Donald Trump’s return to the White House and an uncertain outcome for the war in Ukraine. SEDE has taken on an expanded mandate to address critical aspects of the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and related defence-focused initiatives. This includes overseeing threats to the EU’s territorial integrity, managing civilian and military common EU missions outside its borders, and framing a unified defence policy among Member States, among others. The committee will also be tasked with monitoring and implementing defence research, fostering innovation and joint production, addressing hybrid threats, enhancing Europe’s defence industry and cyber-defence capabilities, an advancing military mobility infrastructure. The upgrade also comes shortly after the nomination of the very first European Commissioner for Defence, Andrius Kubilius.

Likewise, SANT’s upgrade follows extensive work by the European Parliament in the previous legislature to be more involved in health matters in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the work carried out by the former special committee on Beating Cancer (BECA). To wit, SANT will focus on key areas such as pharmaceutical products, medical devices, public health programmes, and preparedness for health crises. The EPP had strongly advocated for strengthening the SANT subcommittee to bring greater attention to health-related issues, which they argued were being overshadowed within the broader Environment Committee.

The move to establish SEDE and SANT as standing committees was not without controversy, however, as their new and expanded roles were met with some scrutiny and resistance from other political groups. Members of ENVI in particular expressed concerns that separating health issues from environmental matters could undermine the cross-sectoral approach to public health. As a compromise, food security and animal welfare will remain under the Environment Committee, which will be renamed the Environment, Climate, and Food Safety Committee.

Special committees to meet new challenges: foreign interference and rising home prices

The European Parliament also decided to set up two special committees on the ‘European democracy shield’, and on the housing crisis in the EU. Each committee will consist of 33 members and have an initial mandate of 12 months, which can be renewed. This temporary format is not new, as Parliament has previously formed committees to tackle issues such as organised crime, corruption, money laundering (CRIM), or the EU’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic (COVI).

The ‘European Democracy Shield’ special committee will focus on combating foreign interference and information manipulation, aligning with the Democracy Shield initiative outlined in Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s 2024–2029 political guidelines.

For its part, HOUS’s creation comes amid a sharp rise in housing costs, with average rent prices increasing by nearly 23% and house prices by almost 48% between 2010-2024. Although the EU’s competences in housing policy are limited, the European Commission recently appointed its first Housing Commissioner to coordinate national efforts. The new committee is expected to complement these efforts by exploring potential market reforms and mapping housing needs across the EU.

Policymakers’ reactions

The establishment of the new committees has garnered strong support from the European Parliament’s main political groups. The centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) welcomed the move, with EPP SANT Chair Adam Jarubas describing it as a vital step toward enhancing autonomy in medical procurement, improving crisis preparedness, and advancing the EU’s Health Union. MEP Nicolás Pascual de la Parte, the EPP Group’s Spokesman in SEDE, highlighted the committee’s expanded oversight role concerning the Commissioner for Defence and Space. Additionally, the EPP called for more decisive measures to protect the EU from foreign interference and to address the ongoing housing crisis.

The centre-left Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group also applauded the creation of the Housing Committee. S&D President Iratxe García emphasized her group’s commitment to advocating for the right to decent, affordable housing. She further endorsed the upgrade of SEDE’s mandate, acknowledging its importance in the current geopolitical climate.

Meanwhile, the centrist Renew Europe group celebrated the leadership roles it secured in the European Democracy Shield and SEDE committees. MEP Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, the new SEDE Chair, underscored the need for Europe to take responsibility for its own defence, stating that the committee would strive to build “a European Union of Defence.” MEP Nathalie Loiseau, the candidate for Chair of the special European Democracy Shield Committee, welcomed the agreement and stressed the importance of coordination against hostile actors.

What’s next

Now that the full committee line-ups have been announced, the new committees will hold their constitutive meetings this week, during which they will elect their Chairs and Vice-Chairs. Their work will commence from February 2025.

Image © European Union 2025 – Source : EP