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(articles 68 of the Constitution and 31-48 and 89-91 of the Standing Orders)
The Parliament assumes legislative work and enforces parliamentary control. It is for this purpose that committees of MPs are established, depending on the power of Parliamentary Groups and independent Mps. Committees engage in legislative work or parliamentary control or special matters. Pursuant to the Constitution and the Standing Orders the following categories of committees are currently at work. (
Browse for active Committees)
Standing Committees
Standing Committees are instituted and composed at the onset of every Regular Session by a decision of the Speaker of the Parliament, in order to elaborate and examine Bills or Law Proposals. Following the Constitutional revision of 2001 and the respective amendments made to the Parliament’s Standing Orders, Standing Committees may also exercise both legislative work and parliamentary control. To the extend provided by law and the Standing Orders, they moreover may discuss issues that fall within their competence and give opinions on forthcoming appointments to certain public posts. Moreover the standing committees are informed by the competent Minister or the representative of the agency along with the competent Minister before the conclusion of public contracts of considerable value (over 20 millions Euros)
There are six (6) Standing Committees:
- Standing Committee on Cultural and Educational Affairs
- Standing Committee on National Defense and Foreign Affairs
- Standing Committee on Economic Affairs
- Standing Committee on Social Affairs
- Standing Committee on Public Administration, Public Order and Justice
- Standing Committee on Production and Trade
There is a subcommittee for combating narcotics in the Standing Committee on Social Affairs while further provision has been made for the instituting, per Ministry and respective field of competence, of other such subcommittees within Standing Committees.
Special Standing Committees
Moreover there is provision for four special standing committees, which are regulated in the same way as the standing committees. These are the following:
- Committee on the Financial Statement and the General Balance Sheet and the implementation of the State Budget
- Committee on European affairs
- Committee on the Monitoring of the Social Security System
- Committee on Armament Programs and Contracts
Special Committees
Special Committees are established by the Speaker upon government request in order to elaborate and examine specific Bills or Law Proposals. They are functioning until they reach a final decision on the Bills and Law Proposals for which they were established.
Special Permanent Committees
Special Permanent Committees are established at the onset of each regular session, except for the Special Permanent Committee on Institutions and Transparency, which is established at the onset of the parliamentary term and operates at the entire duration of the term.
There are eight (8) special permanent committees:
- Special Permanent Committee on Institutions and Transparency
- Special Permanent Committee on Greeks Abroad
- Special Permanent Committee on Environmental Protection
- Special Permanent Committee on Research and Technology
- Special Permanent Committee on Equality, Youth and Human Rights
- Special Permanent Committee of the Regions
- Special Permanent Committee on Road Safety
- Special Permanent Committee on Parliamentary Ethics
In addition, there are the following subcommittees to the special permanent committees:
- The Special Permanent Committee on Environmental Protection has a subcommittee on water resources;
- The Special Permanent Committee on Equality, Youth and Human Rights has a subcommittee for people with disabilities;
- The Special Permanent Committee of the Regions also has a subcommittee on insular and mountainous areas.
Committees on Parliament’s Internal Affairs
Committees on Parliament’s Internal Affairs are as follows:
- Committee on the Standing Orders
- Committee on Parliament Finances
- Committee on the Parliament’s Library
The Committee on the Standing Orders is established at the onset of each parliamentary term, while the Committee on Parliament Finances and the Committee on the Parliament’s Library are established at the onset of each regular session. All three deal with standing internal issues of the workings of Parliament.
Committee on state-owned enterprises, banks, public utility enterprises and social security agencies
At the onset of each parliamentary term the Speaker institutes the Committee which operates for the entire duration of the parliamentary term, including the period between sessions.
The Committee gives its opinion on the suitability of nominations or renewal of terms in office for chairmen and managing directors serving at public enterprises, banking institutions, public utilities enterprises and social security agencies.
The Committee may invite anyone of the aforementioned individuals for a hearing six (6) months after they have been appointed or a semester after they last appeared before it.
Committees on matters of national significance or general interest
Such committees are instituted by means of decisions Parliament makes upon the government’s suggestion or following a proposal by the Speaker of the Parliament or the Presidents of the Parliamentary Groups. The committees’ task is to elaborate on issues of general importance or national significance. Upon deciding to establish such a committee, the Parliament also determines it's subject and the deadline for submitting a report on its findings.
Investigation Committees
Investigation committees are established for the assessment of issues of general interest, following the proposal of one fifth of the total number of MPs (60 MPs) and the vote of the plenary session, which is determined by the absolute majority of the present MPs and cannot be smaller than two fifths of the total number of MPs (120 votes). If the issue relates to foreign affairs or national defense, the absolute majority of all MPs (151 votes) is required. Parliament decides on the deadline for the submission of the committees’ report. Investigation committees are vested with all the powers of the investigating authorities and the Public Prosecutor.
Ad hoc Parliamentary Committees for the conduct of preliminary investigations
Should parliament decide to opt for a preliminary investigation, a 12-member committee of MPs shall be appointed and a date shall be set to determine the deadline by which the committee should produce a written report on its findings. In the report all relevant evidence must be attached. Ad hoc preliminary committees are vested with all the powers of the Public Prosecutor when conducting a preliminary investigation. The committee’s report on its findings must be reasoned and should contain a succinct proposal to open criminal proceedings.
Constitutional Revision Committee
The Committee is established by the Speaker following proposals for reviewing the Constitution made by at least 50 MPs. The proposals are examined by the Committee.
By the Parliament’s decision, following the Speaker’s proposal, a deadline for the submission of the committee’s report is determined. This deadline can nonetheless be extended by subsequent parliament decisions.
List of Active Commitiees
STANDING COMMITTEES
SPECIAL STANDING COMMITTEES
SPECIAL PERMANENT COMMITTEES
COMMITTEESS ON PARLIAMENT'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS
AD HOC PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES FOR THE CONDUCT OF PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION
OTHER COMMITTEES