THE ORGANIZING OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT - COMMITTEES, SPECIALIZATION AND COORDINATION

This article addresses the issue of specialization and committee forma tion in the European Parliament in the light of the largely US-centred debates on these issues. Clear evidence is found of specialization of behaviour, both with regard to committee assignment and the use of pa rliamentary questions. This is also accompanied by a trend towards a g reater role for the party groups in co-ordinating and controlling beha viour across these specializations.