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 Brussels (17-20 May 2021), MEPs debate on the digital future of Europe: digital single market and use of artificial intelligence (AI) for European consumers (MEPs debate part 1/2).

Digital future of Europe: digital single market and use of AI for European consumers. MEPs debate (Part 1/2)

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (17-20 May 2021), MEPs debate on the digital future of Europe: digital single market and use of artificial intelligence (AI) for European consumers (MEPs debate part 2/2).

Digital future of Europe: digital single market and use of AI for European consumers. MEPs debate (Part 2/2)

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (17-20 May 2021), MEPs debate on the conflict of interest of the Czech Prime Minister: MEPs debate part 1/2

The conflict of interest of the Czech Prime Minister: MEPs debate 1/2

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (17-20 May 2021), MEPs debate on the digital future of Europe: digital single market and use of artificial intelligence (AI) for European consumers: opening statement by Deirdre CLUNE (EPP, IE), rapporteur. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

Digital future of Europe: digital single market and use of AI for European consumers: opening statement by Deirdre CLUNE (EPP, IE), rapporteur

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (17-20 May 2021), MEPs debate on the conflict of interest of the Czech Prime Minister: Opening statements by Augusto SANTOS SILVA, Portuguese Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and by Johannes HAHN, European Commissioner for Budget and Administration

The conflict of interest of the Czech Prime Minister: Opening statements by Augusto SANTOS SILVA, Portuguese Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and by Johannes HAHN, European Commissioner for Budget and Administration

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (17-20 May 2021), MEPs debate on the New Avenues for Legal Labour Migration: opening statement by Sylvie GUILLAUME (S&D, FR), rapporteur and by Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of promoting our European Way of Life. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

New Avenues for Legal Labour Migration: opening statement by Sylvie GUILLAUME (S&D, FR), rapporteur and by Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the European Commission

During the plenary session, Parliament is set to approve the new Erasmus+, the EU’s education, training, youth and sports programme and the European Solidarity Corps programme, supporting volunteering activities for young people in the EU and beyond, for the period 2021-2027. Extracts from the debate - statements by Mariya GABRIEL, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Laurence FARRENG (Renew, FR),, Petra KAMMEREVERT (S&D, DE),, Sabine VERHEYEN (EPP, DE),, and Niklas NIENASS (Greens/EFA, DE). Extracts from the vote, and statements by Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ (EPP, CZ), rapporteur, and Milan ZVER (EPP, SI), rapporteur.

EU Solidarity Corps / Erasmus +: extracts from the debate and the vote, and statements by Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ (EPP, CZ), rapporteur, and Milan ZVER (EPP, SI), rapporteur

MEPs debate with Council and Commission about the findings on the breach of conflict of interest rules involving Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš during the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels. Statements by Augusto SANTOS SILVA, Portuguese Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Johannes HAHN, European Commissioner for Budget and Administration, Monika HOHLMEIER (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, Lara WOLTERS (S&D, NL), Mikuláš PEKSA (Greens/EFA, CZ), Zdzisław KRASNODĘBSKI (ECR, PL), and Sabrina PIGNEDOLI (NI, IT).

The conflict of interest of the Czech Prime Minister: extracts from the debate

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate and vote a report to tackle illegal online streaming of sporting events to ensure the protection of organisers’ intellectual property rights. Statement by Angel DZHAMBAZKI (ECR, BG), rapporteur.

Challenges of sports events organisers in the digital environment: statement by Angel DZHAMBAZKI (ECR, BG), rapporteur

MEPs debate and vote the next ‘Creative Europe’ programme (2021 to 2027). The new programme will invest 2.2 billion euro in the cultural and creative sectors, recognising the importance of culture and helping the sector recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Extracts from the debate and the vote and statement by Massimiliano SMERIGLIO (S&D, IT), rapporteur.

Creative Europe Programme: extracts from the debate and the vote and statement by Massimiliano SMERIGLIO (S&D, IT), rapporteur

During the plenary session, MEPs present their proposals for decarbonising Europe’s energy system, industry and transport sector with Hydrogen produced from renewable sources as a key to Europe’s energy transition. Extracts from the joint debate, from the final vote and statement by Jens GEIER (S&D, DE), Rapporteur

European Strategy for Hydrogen: extracts from the debate, from the final vote and statement by Jens GEIER (S&D, DE), Rapporteur

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (17-20 May 2021), MEPs debate on the liability of companies for environmental damage: opening statements by Antonius MANDERS (EPP, NL), rapporteur and by Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries by Caroline ROOSE (Greens/EFA,FR) DEVE; Delara BURKHARDT (S&D,DE) ENVI. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

Liability of companies for environmental damage: opening statements by Antonius MANDERS (EPP, NL), rapporteur, Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner for Environment, Caroline ROOSE (Greens/EFA, FR), and by Delara BURKHARDT (S&D, DE)

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (17-20 May 2021), MEPs debate proposal to the WTO to waive intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines, a move backed by the US administration. Extracts from the debate: statements by Augusto SANTOS SILVA, Portuguese Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President of the EC in charge of an Economy that works for People, Esther de LANGE (EPP, NL), Iratxe GARCÍA PÉREZ (S&D, ES), Dacian CIOLOŞ (Renew, RO), Tilly METZ (Greens/EFA, LU), Marc BOTENGA (The Left, BE), and Gilles LEBRETON (ID, FR).

Waiver of the Global Covid 19 vaccines patents: extracts from the debate

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (17-20 May 2021), MEPs debate on the meeting the Global COVID-19 challenge: effects of waiver of the WTO TRIPS agreement on COVID-19 vaccines, treatment, equipment and manufacturing capacity in developing countries: Closing statements by Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of an Economy that works for People, and Commissioner for Trade and by Augusto SANTOS SILVA, Portuguese Minister of State for Foreign Affairs

Meeting the Global COVID-19 challenge: effects of waiver of the WTO TRIPS agreement on COVID-19 vaccines, treatment, equipment and manufacturing capacity in developing countries: Closing statements by Council and Comission

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (17-20 May 2021), MEPs debate on the meeting the Global COVID-19 challenge: effects of waiver of the WTO TRIPS agreement on COVID-19 vaccines, treatment, equipment and manufacturing capacity in developing countries: MEPs debate part 2/3

Meeting the Global COVID-19 challenge: effects of waiver of the WTO TRIPS agreement on COVID-19 vaccines, treatment, equipment and manufacturing capacity in developing countries: MEPs debate part 2/3

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (17-20 May 2021), MEPs debate on the meeting the Global COVID-19 challenge: effects of waiver of the WTO TRIPS agreement on COVID-19 vaccines, treatment, equipment and manufacturing capacity in developing countries: Opening statements by Augusto SANTOS SILVA, Portuguese Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and by Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of an Economy that works for People, and Commissioner for Trade.

Meeting the Global COVID-19 challenge: effects of waiver of the WTO TRIPS agreement on COVID-19 vaccines, treatment, equipment and manufacturing capacity in developing countries: Opening statements Council and Commission

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (17-20 May 2021), MEPs debate on the Erasmus+: the Union Programme for education and training, youth and sport.

Erasmus+: the Union Programme for education, training, youth and sport. MEPs debate

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (17-20 May 2021), MEPs debate on the 2019-2020 Reports on Turkey: Opening statement by Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, Augusto SANTOS SILVA, Portuguese Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner and by Angel DZHAMBAZKI (ECR, BG), PETI

2019-2020 Reports on Turkey: Opening statement by Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR (S&D, ES), Rapporteur, Augusto SANTOS SILVA, Portuguese Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner and by Angel DZHAMBAZKI (ECR, BG), PETI

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