When we think of the European Parliament, we usually imagine MEPs voting in the debating chamber. In reality, though, voting only takes place once a month, during plenary part-sessions. But what actually are these part-sessions, and how do they work?

What are plenary sessions?

EP Plenary session - Topical debate - Tax the rich

EP Plenary session - Commission statement - Social-economic cost of climate change, floods in Emilia Romagna, Marche, Toscana - urgent need EU solidarity

EP Plenary session - Threat to democracy and the rule of law in Poland, in particular the creation of an investigative committee

EP Plenary session - Council and Commission statements - Breaches of the Rule of Law and fundamental rights in Hungary and frozen EU funds

EP Plenary session - Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law

EP Plenary session - Situation in Sudan

EP Plenary session - Adoption of the Act in support of ammunition production

EP Plenary session - Joint debate - CFSP and CSDP (Article 36 TEU).Implementation of the common foreign and security policy and the common security and defence policy- annual reports 2022

EP Plenary session - Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (Rule 144) - The human rights situation in Afghanistan especially the deterioration of women’s rights

EP Plenary session - Human rights situation in Egypt

EP Plenary session - Situation of human rights in the context of the upcoming FIFA world cup in Qatar

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with youth organizations and University Students, at the Library of the University of Cyprus

EP Plenary session - Topical debate: The Three Seas Initiative; challenges and opportunities

EP Plenary session  - Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law

EP Plenary session -  Question time to Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of a stronger Europe in the World - The EU’s security and strategic compass

EP Plenary session - Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law - The situation of journalists and human rights defenders in Mexico

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg (4-7 October 2021), MEPs debate on the European Union Agency for Asylum.

European Union Agency for Asylum: MEPs debate

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg (4-7 October 2021), MEPs debate on the European Union Agency for Asylum. Opening statements by Elena YONCHEVA (S&D, BG), Rapporteur and by Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety.

European Union Agency for Asylum: opening statements by Elena YONCHEVA (S&D, BG), Rapporteur and by Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg (4-7 October 2021), MEPs debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, in particular the Human rights situation in Myanmar, including the situation of religious and ethnic groups. Closing statement by Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety.

Human rights situation in Myanmar, including the situation of religious and ethnic groups: MEPs debate and closing statement by Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg (4-7 October 2021), MEPs debate on the European Union Agency for Asylum. Closing statements by Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety and by Elena YONCHEVA (S&D,BG), Rapporteur.

European Union Agency for Asylum: closing statements by Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety and by Elena YONCHEVA (S&D, BG), Rapporteur

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg (4-7 October 2021), MEPs debate on the state of play of the Recovery and Resilience Facility plans (RRF) of member states awaiting for approval. Opening statements by Paolo GENTILONI, Commissioner for Economy. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

The state of play on the submitted RRF recovery plans awaiting approval: opening statement by Paolo GENTILONI, European Commissioner for Economy

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg (4-7 October 2021), MEPs debate on the European solutions to the rise of energy prices for businesses and consumers, especially the role of energy efficiency and renewable energy and the need to tackle energy poverty. Closing statements by Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy and Anže LOGAR, Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Pandora Papers - implications on the efforts to combat money laundering, tax evasion and avoidance: closing statements by Paolo GENTILONI, European Commissioner for Economy and by Anže LOGAR, Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg (4-7 October 2021), MEPs debate on the implications of the efforts to combat money laundering, tax evasion and avoidance (after the publication of the so-called journalistic investigation 'Panama Papers'). Second part of the debate.

Pandora Papers - implications on the efforts to combat money laundering, tax evasion and avoidance: MEPs debate (Part 2/2)

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg (4-7 October 2021), MEPs debate on the implications of the efforts to combat money laundering, tax evasion and avoidance (after the publication of the so-called journalistic investigation 'Panama Papers'). Opening statements by Anže LOGAR, Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs and by Paolo GENTILONI, European Commissioner for Economy. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

Pandora Papers - implications on the efforts to combat money laundering, tax evasion and avoidance: opening statements by Anže LOGAR, Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs and by Paolo GENTILONI, European Commissioner for Economy

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg (4-7 October 2021), MEPs debate on the European solutions to the rise of energy prices for businesses and consumers, especially the role of energy efficiency and renewable energy and the need to tackle energy poverty. Opening statements by Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy and Anže LOGAR, Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

European solutions to the rise of energy prices for businesses and consumers: opening statements by Anže LOGAR, Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs and by Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg (4-7 October 2021), MEPs debate on the European solutions to the rise of energy prices for businesses and consumers, especially the role of energy efficiency and renewable energy and the need to tackle energy poverty. Second part of the debate.

European solutions to the rise of energy prices for businesses and consumers: MEPs debate (part 2/4)

Debate following the publication of the Pandora Papers by a consortium of journalists and the implications on the efforts to combat money laundering, tax evasion and avoidance.

Pandora papers: extracts from the debate

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg (4-7 October 2021), MEPs debate on the European solutions to the rise of energy prices for businesses and consumers, especially the role of energy efficiency and renewable energy and the need to tackle energy poverty. First part of the debate.

European solutions to the rise of energy prices for businesses and consumers: MEPs debate (Part 1/4)

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg (4-7 October 2021), MEPs debate on the state of play of the Recovery and Resilience Facility plans (RRF) of member states awaiting for approval.

The state of play on the submitted RRF recovery plans awaiting approval: MEPs debate

European solutions to the rise of energy prices for businesses and consumers: closing statements by Anže LOGAR, Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs and by Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg (4-7 October 2021), MEPs debate on the European solutions to the rise of energy prices for businesses and consumers, especially the role of energy efficiency and renewable energy and the need to tackle energy poverty. Fourth part of the debate.

European solutions to the rise of energy prices for businesses and consumers: MEPs debate (part 4/4)

MEPs debate with European Commission and the Council on possible European solutions regarding the rise of energy prices, as gasprices surge because of high demand and low stocks in member states. Statement by Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP,RO), rapporteur and extracts from the debate.

The rise of energy prices: statement by Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP, RO), rapporteur and extracts from the debate

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg (4-7 October 2021), MEPs debate on the state of play of the Recovery and Resilience Facility plans (RRF) of member states awaiting for approval. Closing statements by Paolo GENTILONI, Commissioner for Economy.

The state of play on the submitted RRF recovery plans awaiting approval: closing statement by Paolo GENTILONI, European Commissioner for Economy

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg (4-7 October 2021), MEPs debate on the European solutions to the rise of energy prices for businesses and consumers, especially the role of energy efficiency and renewable energy and the need to tackle energy poverty.Third part of the debate.

5,051 results