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 September in Brussels MEPs debate&nbsp;on the Conclusions of the Justice and Home Affairs Council on migration. Statements by Jean ASSELBORN, President of the Council, Frans TIMMERMANS, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional, Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Dimitris AVRAMOPOULOS, Member of the EC in charge of Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship.

Conclusions of the Justice and Home Affairs Council on migration: extracts from the opening statements

During plenary session of the EP in Brussels, MEPs debate on the Conclusions of the Justice and Home Affairs Council on migration. Statements by Esteban GONZALEZ PONS (EPP, ES), Giovanni PITTELLA (S&amp;D, IT), Timothy KIRKHOPE (ECR, UK), Guy VERHOFSTADT (ADLE, BE), Marine LE PEN (ENF, FR) and Philippe LAMBERTS (Greens, BE)

Conclusions of the Justice and Home Affairs Council on migration: extracts from the debate

During the EP plenary session in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the gender dimension of trafficking in human beings. Statements by Konstantinka KUNEVA (GUE/NGL, EL), Catherine BEARDER (ALDE, UK), B Dimitris AVRAMOPOULOS, Member of the EC in charge of Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Anna Maria CORAZZA BILDT (EPP, SE), Mary HONEYBALL (S&amp;D, UK) and Ines Cristina ZUBER (GUE/NGL, PT)

The gender dimension of trafficking in human beings: extracts from the debate

During the EP plenary session in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the EU's role in the Middle East peace process.&nbsp;Statements by Elmar BROK (EPP, DE), Victor BOSTINARU (S&amp;D, RO), Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK), Martina ANDERSON (GUE/NGL, UK), Tamas MESZERICS (Greens/EFA, HU), Richard Stuart HOWITT (S&amp;D, UK), Pavel TELICKA (ALDE, CZ) and Margrete AUKEN (Greens/EFA, DK)

The EU's role in the Middle East peace process: extracts from the debate

During the EP plenary session in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on Iran nuclear agreement. Statements by Cristian Dan PREDA (EPP, RO), Richard Stuart HOWITT (S&amp;D, UK), Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK), Marietje SCHAAKE (ALDE, NL), Cornelia ERNST (GUE/NGL, DE), Alyn SMITH (Greens/EFA, UK) and Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (EFDD, IT)

Iran nuclear agreement: extracts from the debate

During the EP plenary session in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on Migration and refugees in Europe. Statements by Agustin DIAZ DE MERA GARCIA CONSUEGRA (EPP, ES), Giovanni PITTELLA (S&amp;D, IT), Cecilia WIKSTROM (ALDE, SE), Marina ALBIOL GUZMAN (GUE/NGL, ES), Judith SARGENTINI (Greens/EFA, NL),&nbsp; Marie-Christine VERGIAT (GUE/NGL, FR),&nbsp; Ska KELLER (Greens/EFA, DE) and Claude MORAES (S&amp;D, UK)

Migration and refugees in Europe: MEPs debate

During the EP plenary session in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the State of the Union.&nbsp;Statements by Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Giovanni PITTELLA (S&amp;D, IT), Syed KAMALL (ECR, UK), Guy VERHOFSTADT (ALDE, BE), Gabriele ZIMMER (GUE/NGL, DE) and Philippe LAMBERTS

State of the Union: extracts from the MEPs’ questions and interventions

During the EP plenary session in Strasbourg, Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC replies to the MEPs' questions on the State of the Union.

State of the Union: extracts from the replies by Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC to the MEPs

During the EP plenary session in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the&nbsp;EU's role in the Middle East peace process. Statements by Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC

The EU's role in the Middle East peace process: extracts from the statement by Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC

During the EP plenary session in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on Iran nuclear agreement. Statements by Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC.

Iran nuclear agreement: extracts from the statement by Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC

During the EP plenary session in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on emergency rules for relocating asylum seekers. Statements by Ska KELLER (Greens/EFA, DE), Rapporteur,&nbsp; Dimitris AVRAMOPOULOS, member of the EC in charge of Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Jeroen LENAERS (EPP, NL), Iliana IOTOVA (S&amp;D, BG), Helga STEVENS (ECR, BE) and Kostas CHRYSOGONOS (GUE/NGL, EL)

Emergency rules for relocating asylum seekers: extracts from the debate

Memoclip on the EP role on migration. Extracts from the vote on the situation in the Mediterranean and the need for a holistic EU approach to migration. (Plenary session Strasbourg 17/12/2014). Debate on the latest tragedies in the Mediterranean and EU migration and asylum policies (Report of the extraordinary European Council (23 April 2015). Extracts from the&nbsp;debate on the latest tragedies in the Mediterranean and EU migration and asylum policies (Plenary session Strasbourg 29/04/2015). Extracts of the votes on the latest tragedies in the Mediterranean and EU migration and asylum policies. Extracts from the vote of resolution on EU migration and asylum policies. Extracts from the vote on Member States responsible for examining the application for international protection of unaccompanied minors&nbsp; (Brussels 06/05/2015).

Memoclip: Migration - The role of the EP

On July 16th, 2015, MEPs debate, at the EP Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, on the Euro Summit agreement on Greece. Extracts from statements by Roberto GUALTIERI (S&amp;D, IT), Georgios KYRTSOS (EPP, EL), Maria Joao RODRIGUES (S&amp;D, PT), Notis MARIAS (ECR, EL), Dimitrios PAPADIMOULIS (GUE/NGL, CY), Ana Gomes (S&amp;D, PT).

Debate on the Euro Summit agreement on Greece at EP Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs : Extracts from MEPs statements

Debate&nbsp;on&nbsp;the 20th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre during the EP plenary session in Strasbourg. Statements by Gunther OETTINGER, Member of the EC in charge of Digital Economy and Society, Cristian Dan PREDA (EPP, RO), Tanja FAJON (S&amp;D, SI), Ružza TOMASIC (ECR, HR), Ivan JAKOVCIC (ALDE, HR) and Igor SOLTES (Greens/EFA, SI)

Srebrenica commemoration: extracts from the debate

Debate during the plenary session of July in Strasbourg on the harmonisation of certain aspects of copyright and related rights in the information society. Statements by Julia REDA (Greens/EFA, DE), Rapporteur, G&uuml;nther OETTINGER, Member of the EC for Digital Economy &amp; Society, Jos&eacute; BLANCO L&Oacute;PEZ (S&amp;D, ES), Catherine STIHLER (S&amp;D, UK) and Mary HONEYBALL (S&amp;D, UK)

Harmonisation of certain aspects of copyright and related rights in the information society: extracts from the debate

Debates during the plenary session of July in Strasbourg on the cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Statements by Ernest MARAGALL (Greens/EFA, ES) and Cecilia MALMSTRÖM, Member of the EC in charge of Trade, on Cambodia's draft laws on NGOs and trade unions. Statements by Mark DEMESMAEKER (ECR, BE) and Cecilia MALMSTRÖM on the Republic of Democratic Congo (DRC), in particular the case of two detained human rights activists Yves Makwambala and Fred Bauma. Statement by Cristian Dan PREDA (EPP, RO) and Cecilia MALMSTRÖM on Bahrain, in particular the case of Nabeel Rajab. And Statements by Kashetu KYENGE (S&D, IT) and Cecilia MALMSTRÖM on the situation of two Christian pastors in Sudan

Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law: extracts from the debate

Debate during the plenary session of July in Strasbourg on the conclusions of the European Council (25-26 June) and of the Euro Summit (7 July). Statements by Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Giovanni PITTELLA (S&amp;D, IT), Ryszard LEGUTKO (ECR, PL), Guy VERHOFSTADT (ALDE, BE), Gabriele ZIMMER (GUE/NGL, DE), Rebecca HARMS (Greens/EFA, DE), Nigel FARAGE (EFDD, UK) and&nbsp;Marine LE PEN (ENF, FR).

Conclusions of the European Council (25-26 June) and of the Euro Summit (7 July) and the current situation in Greece: extracts from the MEPs debate

Debate during the plenary session of July in Strasbourg on the conclusions of the European Council (25-26 June 2015) and of the Euro Summit (7 July 2015) and the current situation in Greece, with the participation Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, Donald TUSK, President of the European Council and Alexis TSIPRAS, Greek Prime Minister

Conclusions of European Council (25-26 June 2015) and Euro Summit (7 July 2015) including the current situation in Greece: closing statement by Alexis TSIPRAS, Greek Prime Minister (13 - 13:09 - 13:17)

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