On Wednesday, European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) elected its Chair and Vice-Chairs for the second half of the legislature
Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (S&D, ES) was elected as Chair by acclamation for the next two and half years. For the Vice-Chair positions of the committee bureau, MEPs re-elected by acclamation: Maite PAGAZAURTUNDÚA (Renew, ES, First Vice-Chair), Pietro Bartolo (S&D, IT, Second Vice-Chair), Andrzej Halicki (EPP, PL, Third Vice-Chair) and Emil Radev (EPP, BG, Fourth Vice-Chair).
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Following his re-election Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR said : “I am very grateful for the trust that members have placed in me for the second half of the legislature. Notwithstanding the many challenges that we have faced during the first half of the legislature due to the pandemic and the new remote working regime, the Civil Liberties committee has been able to successfully adapt and progress on key files in the area of Justice and Home Affairs. For the second term I am looking forward to finalise the work on the relevant legislative files and to reinforce the standing of the Civil Liberties committee within the European Parliament and in the interinstitucional relations with the Council and the Commission.”
Background
Committee Chair and Vice-Chairs form the bureau, which is responsible for their respective committee’s smooth functioning. The Chair presides over committee and coordinators’ meetings, represents the committee both within and outside the European Parliament and presides legislative negotiations led by the committee. Vice-Chairs can replace the Committee Chair when necessary.
The process for the election of committee bureaux is defined in Rule 213 of the Rules of Procedure, according to which the committee members can vote by acclamation or by secret ballot.