The work of the European Parliament is based mainly on the activity of 20 standing committees and a few special committees. Standing committees’ sittings take place once or twice a month. Their responsibilities embrace preparing the plenary sessions’ agenda and reports on legislative projects submitted to the Parliament, as well as on these being subjects to consultation of the Parliament. Moreover, the committees entertain amendments and amend draft directives and regulations proposed by the European Commission. Every committee is also entitled to comment on regulations even if they are connected with the work of other parliamentary committees.

The committees may be asked to compile reports on legislative and non-legislative matters. Their usual task is delivering a report concerning given issues rooted in the scope of their political activity. In some cases a committee can prepare a report on its own initiative. After a draft opinion is submitted to a committee, its members vote on it and implement necessary changes. After that, opinions are submitted to a committee responsible for delivering a report. All adopted opinions are attached to a report prepared by a given committee. When a draft report is completed, it is presented and discussed upon during a committee’s sitting and members of a committee, if they wish to, may table amendments. The amendments are then discussed upon and put to the vote during a committee’s sitting. After the final voting, the report is created. It is than presented during the plenary session.

As a Member of the European Parliament, I am a member of two stnding committees: the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs and the Committee on Regional Development.