María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia are the 2024 winners of the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. 
The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought was set up in 1988 to honour individuals and organisations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 2024

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?

Out of the jargon jungle. The role of the European Parliament President?

The role of the European Parliament President?

On 19 March 1958, the European Parliamentary Assembly hold a first meeting in Strasbourg. Luciano GRANZOTTO BASSO, Oldest member of the Assembly leads the election. The representatives elect Robert Schuman as President. He is the single candidate at the function.

Constitutive session of the European Parliamentary Assembly: election of Robert SCHUMAN, as President of the Assembly

A formal sitting is&nbsp;held to mark an official visit to the European Parliament, made at the President’s invitation after consulting with the Conference of Presidents.

The official guest is seated to the right of the President on the podium. After the welcoming remarks by the President, the official guest addresses the&nbsp; Parliament from the central rostrum in the Chamber.

The address for a formal sitting of Parliament&nbsp;usually lasts 30 minutes and generally takes place before the voting session.

Formal Sittings

On certain occasions, David SASSOLI, President of the European Parliament, gives a speech during plenary sessions highlighting the news, a special event or pays tribute to a personality and asks for a minute of silence.

Statements of David SASSOLI, EP President in Plenary

Holocaust Remembrance Day - Group photo with the leaders of political groups

International Holocaust Remembrance Day

International Holocaust Remembrance Day - Meeting between Roberta METSOLA, EP President, and Corrie Hermann, daughter of Hungarian-born cellist Pál Hermann

EP Plenary session - EU funding of physical border protection structures such as walls, fences or other barriers at the external border

EP Plenary session - Voting session

EP Plenary session - Cryptocurrencies - need for global standards

EP Plenary session - Combating Desertification: 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention

EP Plenary session - Stepping up international action to protect whales following Iceland’s decision to extend commercial whaling until 2029

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

EP Plenary session - EU financing through the LIFE programme of entities lobbying EU institutions and the need for transparency

EP Plenary session - Links between organised crime and smuggling of migrants in light of the recent UN reports

EP Plenary session - Failure of the negotiations in Busan for a UN plastic treaty and the urgent need to tackle plastic pollution at international and Union level

EP Plenary session - Addressing EU demographic challenges: towards the implementation of the 2023 Demography Toolbox

EP Plenary session - Uniting Europe against actors hostile to the EU: time to strengthen our security and defence

MEPs debate on the conclusions of the European Council meeting (20-21-30 June 2019), during the plenary session the European Parliament, in Strasbourg.

Conclusions of the European Council meeting (20-21-30 June 2019): extracts from the debate

Live replay of the EP Plenary session on the Conclusions of the European Council meeting (20-21-30 June) during the Strasbourg plenary week (01.07.19 - 04.07.19). Closing remarks by Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Energy Union.

EP Plenary session: Conclusions of the European Council meeting (20-21-30 June) - Closing remarks by Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Energy Union

Live replay of the EP Plenary session on the Conclusions of the European Council meeting (20-21-30 June) during the Strasbourg plenary week (01.07.19 - 04.07.19). Introductory remarks.

EP Plenary session: Conclusions of the European Council meeting (20-21-30 June) - Opening and Introductory remarks

Live replay of the EP Plenary session on the Conclusions of the European Council meeting (20-21-30 June) during the Strasbourg plenary week (01.07.19 - 04.07.19). MEPs debate.

EP Plenary session: Conclusions of the European Council meeting (20-21-30 June) - MEPs debate

On Wednesday, all 14 European Parliament Vice-Presidents were elected in three rounds of voting for a two-and-a-half year term. Eleven Vice-Presidents were elected in the first ballot, two in the second and the remaining one by a relative majority in the third.The new EP Vice-Presidents, coming from six political groups and ten member states.

Election of the Vice-Presidents of the Parliament: extracts from the election (second and third ballot)

Live replay of the EP Plenary session on the Election of the President of the European Parliament, 9th parlimentary term, during the plenary week in Strasbourg (01-04/07/2019). Statement by Ska KELLER (Greens/EFA, DE) The following transcription is the result of an automatic process. Check Against delivery.

EP Plenary session - Election of the President of the European Parliament: statement by Ska KELLER (Greens/EFA, DE)

Live replay of the EP Plenary session on the Election of the President of the European Parliament, 9th parlimentary term, during the plenary week in Strasbourg (01-04/07/2019). Statement by David SASSOLI (S&D,IT) The following transcription is the result of an automatic process. Check Against delivery.

EP Plenary session - Election of the President of the European Parliament: statement by David SASSOLI (S&D, IT)

Ambiance shots during the vote to elect the President of the European Parliament, in Strasbourg.

Election of the President of the European Parliament: ambiance shots of the vote

The new EP Vice-Presidents are elected in the European Parliament, in Strasbourg.

Election of the Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament: extracts

David SASSOLI (S&D, IT), newly elected EP President gives his first speech in the Chamber of the European Parliament, in Strasbourg. He won with 345 out of 667 valid votes in the second round. David Sassoli was born in Florence on 30 May 1956. As an Italian MEP since 2009, he was re-elected on a Partito Democratico list in Central Italy in May 2019 for a third term. He will lead Parliament until January 2022.

Election of the President of the European Parliament: acceptance speech by David SASSOLI (S&D, IT), the newly elected EP President

The candidates Ska KELLER (Greens/EFA, DE), Sira REGO (GUE/NGL, ES), David-Maria SASSOLI (S&D, IT) and Jan ZAHRADIL (ECR, CZ) speak in the chamber before the vote to elect the President of the European Parliament, in Strasbourg.

Election of the President of the European Parliament: extracts from the speeches by the candidates

Live replay of the EP Plenary session on the Election of the President of the European Parliament, 9th parlimentary term, during the plenary week in Strasbourg (01-04/07/2019). Statement by Sira REGO (GUE/NGL, ES) The following transcription is the result of an automatic process. Check Against delivery.

EP Plenary session - Election of the President of the European Parliament: statement by Sira REGO (GUE/NGL, ES)

The results of the election of the President of the European Parliament is given in the Chamber, in Strasbourg. David-Maria SASSOLI (S&D, IT) becomes the new President of the European Parliament.

Election of the President of the European Parliament: extracts from the results of the election

Graphic presenting the composition of the European Parliament on 2 July 2019. EPP - Group of the European People's Party - 182 seats, S&D - Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats - 154 seats, ECR - European Conservatives and Reformists Group - 62 seats, Renew Europe - Renew Europe group - 108 seats, GUE/NGL - Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left - 41 seats, Greens/EFA - Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance - 74 seats, ID - Identity and Democracy - 73 seats, NI - Non-attached Members, 57 seats.

European Parliament 2019-2024 - Constitutive session: Graphic presenting the composition of the EP on 2 July 2019

Live Replay of the opening of the first plenary session in the 9th parlimentary term, in Strasbourg (01-04/07/2019). Selection of eight tellers who will oversee the election of the President

EP Plenary session: Selection of eight tellers who will oversee the election of the President

Live Replay of the opening of the first plenary session in the 9th parlimentary term, in Strasbourg (01-04/07/2019). MEPs arriving and taking their seats. Opening by Antonio TAJANI. European anthem by the Quatuor "Avena".

EP Plenary session: Opening of the sitting and European anthem by the Quatuor "Avena"

During the plenary session (15 - 18 April 2019) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs observe a minute of silence for the victims of the bus crash which ocurred on 17th April, in the Portuguese island of Madeira. More than 28 people have died after a bus carrying German tourists plunged off a road and overturned. Statements by Rainer WIELAND (EPP, DE), EP Vice President and José Inácio FARIA (EPP, PT).

Minute of silence for the victims of the bus accident in Madeira: extracts

During the plenary session in the European Parliament in Strasbourg (15-18 April 2019), MEPs debate on several cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law: in China, Cameroon and Brunei. Statements by Helmut SCHOLZ (GUE/NGL, DE), Ryszard CZARNECKI (ECR, PL), Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK), Marietje SCHAAKE (ALDE, NL), Barbara LOCHBIHLER (Greens/EFA, DE), Neena GILL (S&D, UK).

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