Fact Check: Only a handful of inquiry committees have been set up in EU history.

Fact Check: "Only a handful of inquiry committees have been set up in EU history."

What We Know

The claim that "only a handful of inquiry committees have been set up in EU history" is misleading. The European Parliament has had the authority to establish temporary committees of inquiry since the Maastricht Treaty in 1992, which formally recognized this practice. Prior to this, the Parliament had already created nine committees of inquiry from 1979 to 1993, indicating a history of inquiry committees that extends beyond just a few instances (Committees of the European Parliament).

As of now, the European Parliament has established numerous inquiry committees to investigate various issues, including significant public concerns and governmental failures. For example, recent inquiries have addressed topics such as the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the management of the EU's budget (Parliamentary inquiry committee).

Analysis

The assertion that only a handful of inquiry committees have been set up in EU history fails to consider the broader context and the actual number of committees established. The European Parliament has consistently utilized its right to form inquiry committees, which have become more common in recent decades. The claim does not specify what constitutes "a handful," but the evidence suggests that the number of committees is significantly higher than what the claim implies.

Furthermore, the sources used to support this claim lack specificity and do not provide a comprehensive overview of the committees established. The Wikipedia entries on both the European Parliament's committees and parliamentary inquiry committees provide a more nuanced understanding of the frequency and purpose of these committees, indicating that they are not as rare as the claim suggests (Committees of the European Parliament, Parliamentary inquiry committee).

In evaluating the reliability of the sources, Wikipedia entries are generally considered a good starting point for research but should be supplemented with more authoritative sources for critical analysis. The information presented in these entries aligns with established facts about the European Parliament's practices, making them credible for this context.

Conclusion

Verdict: False
The claim that "only a handful of inquiry committees have been set up in EU history" is false. The European Parliament has established numerous inquiry committees since its inception, particularly following the Maastricht Treaty, which formalized this practice. The evidence indicates a robust history of inquiry committees that far exceeds the notion of merely a "handful."

Sources

1. Committees of the European Parliament - Wikipedia
2. Parliamentary inquiry committee - Wikipedia
3. Committee on European Union Affairs - Wikipedia
4. PDF Parliament's committees of inquiry and special ... - European Parliament
5. Highlights - Temporary committees and committees of inquiry - European Parliament
6. Committee of inquiry - The Penguin Companion to European Union