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

Live replay of the plenary session (29-30 January 2020) in Brussels, MEPs debate on the Commission Work Programme 2020, in the European Parliament. First part

Commission Work Programme 2020 - MEPs debate 1/3 (9:12 - 9:37)

During the plenary session (29-30 January 2020) in Brussels, MEPs debate on the Commission Work Programme 2020. Statement by Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight.

Commission Work Programme 2020: extracts from the debate

Live replay of the plenary session (29-30 January 2020) in Brussels, MEPs debate on the Commission Work Programme 2020, in the European Parliament. During the plenary session, the EC makes a closing statement on the Commission Work Programme 2020.

Commission Work Programme 2020 - Closing statement by Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight (10:56 - 11:08)

MEPs debate on the withdrawal Agreement of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, during the plenary session (29-30/01/2020) of the European Parliament in Brussels. Statements by Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Philippe LAMBERTS (Greens/EFA, BE), Richard CORBETT (S&D, UK), Caroline VOADEN (RE, UK) and Martina ANDERSON (GUE/NGL, UK).

Withdrawal Agreement of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community: extracts from the debate

Guy VERHOFSTADT (RE, BE), rapporteur and Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, make a statement during the debate on the withdrawal Agreement of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, during the plenary session (29-30/01/2020) of the European Parliament in Brussels.

Withdrawal Agreement of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the EU and the European Atomic Energy Community: extracts from the opening statements by Guy VERHOFSTADT (RE, BE), rapporteur and Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President

Ambiance shots of the European Parliament in Brussels prior to the debate on the Withdrawal Agreement of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union andthe European Atomic Energy Community. Cutaways of Guy VERHOFSTADT, EP coordinator for the negotiations with the UK and Michel BARNIER, European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services.

Withdrawal Agreement of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the EU and Euratom: ambiance shots prior to the debate

During the plenary session (29-30 January 2020) in Brussels, MEPs debate on the withdrawal Agreement of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the EU and the European Atomic Energy Community. Third part.

Withdrawal Agreement of the UK of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the EU and the European Atomic Energy Community: MEPs debate (3rd part)

During the plenary session (29-30 January 2020) in Brussels, Guy VERHOFSTADT (RE, BE), EP Brexit Steering Group coordinator, makes a statement during the debate on the withdrawal Agreement of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the EU and the European Atomic Energy Community.

Withdrawal Agreement of the UK of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the EU and the European Atomic Energy Community: opening statement by Guy VERHOFSTADT (RE, BE), EP Brexit Steering Group coordinator

During the plenary session (29-30 January 2020) in Brussels, political group leaders make a statement during the debate on the withdrawal Agreement of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the EU and the European Atomic Energy Community.

Withdrawal Agreement of the UK of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the EU and the European Atomic Energy Community: one round of the political group leaders

During the plenary session (29-30 January 2020) in Brussels, MEPs debate on the withdrawal Agreement of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the EU and the European Atomic Energy Community. First part.

Withdrawal Agreement of the UK of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the EU and the European Atomic Energy Community: MEPs debate (1st part)

During the plenary session (29-30 January 2020) in Brussels, MEPs debate on the withdrawal Agreement of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the EU and the European Atomic Energy Community. Second part.

Withdrawal Agreement of the UK of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the EU and the European Atomic Energy Community: MEPs debate (2nd part)

This stockshot shows several debates taking place in the hemicycle in the European Parliament in Brussels. During the debates in plenary session, Political group speakers are invited to give a speech in an order determined by the relative size of those political groups (European People's Party (EPP), Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D), Renew Europe (RE), Greens/European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA), Identity and Democracy (ID), European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), European United Left - Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL)).

European Parliament Stockshots 9th Parliamentary Term: Brussels - Internal shots and leaders of Political groups

During the plenary session (13-16 January 2020) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, such as the case of imprisoned journalists in Burundi and the recent terrorist attacks in Nigeria. Statements by Ellie CHOWNS (Greens/EFA, UK), Maria ARENA (S&D, BE), Idoia VILLANUEVA RUIZ (GUE/NGL, ES), Jan-Christoph OETJEN (RE, DE), Assita KANKO (ECR, BE), Erik MARQUARDT (Greens/EFA, DE), Miguel URBÁN CRESPO (GUE/NGL, ES) and Janez LENARČIČ, European Commissioner for Crisis Management.

Cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law: extracts from the debates

During the plenary session (13-16 January 2020) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate (14/01) and vote (16/01) on the situation in Venezuela after the election of the new National Assembly Presidency and Bureau. Statements by Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC in charge of a stronger Europe in the World, Leopoldo LÓPEZ GIL (EPP, ES), Jordi CAÑAS (RE, ES), Nicola DANTI (S&D, IT) and Katarina BARLEY (S&D, DE).

Situation in Venezuela after the illegal election of the new National Assembly Presidency and Bureau (parliamentary coup): extracts from the debate (14/01) and extracts from the vote

During the plenary session (13-16 Junuary 2020) in the EP in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the European Parliament's position on the Conference on the Future of Europe.

European Parliament's position on the Conference on the Future of Europe: MEPs debate (2nd part)

European Parliament's position on the Conference on the Future of Europe: MEPs debate (3rd part)

During the plenary session (13-16 Junuary 2020) in the EP in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the European Parliament's position on the Conference on the Future of Europe. David SASSOLI, EP President gives a introductory speech before the beginning of the debate.

European Parliament's position on the Conference on the Future of Europe: statement by David SASSOLI, EP President followed by the MEPs debate (1st part)

During the plenary session (13-16 Junuary 2020) in the EP in Strasbourg, Nikolina BRNJAC, President in office of the Council of the EU, and Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Democracy and Demography, give the opening statements on the debate on the European Parliament's position on the Conference on the Future of Europe.

European Parliament's position on the Conference on the Future of Europe: opening statements by Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian Presidency and by Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Democracy and Demography

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