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 plenary session, at EP&nbsp;in&nbsp;Brussels, MEPs debate&nbsp;on "a roadmap towards a new international climate agreement in Paris". Extracts from statements by Ivo BELET (EPP, BE), Kathleen VAN BREMPT (S&amp;D, BE), Ian DUNCAN (ECR, UK), Jos&eacute; Inacio FARIA (ALDE, PT) and Yannick JADOT (Greens/EFA, FR).

Roadmap towards a new international climate agreement in Paris: MEPs debate

During EP plenary session in Brussels, MEPs debate on Council and Commission statements on European fund for strategic investments. Statement by Jyrki KATAINEN, EC Member, and extracts from statements by Zanda KALNIKA-LUKASEVICA, Parliamentary Secretary for the European Affairs of Latvia, Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Maria Joao RODRIGUES (S&amp;D, PT), Syed KAMALL (ECR, UK)&nbsp;and Pavel TELICKA (ALDE, CZ).

Council and Commission statements on European fund for strategic investments: extracts from the debate

Debate at the&nbsp;Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs with Jānis REIRS, Latvian Minister for Finance, on Economic Dialogue in the EP in Brussels. Statements by Jānis REIRS, Latvian Minister for Finance, Burkhard BALZ (EPP, DE), Costas MAVRIDES (S&amp;D, CY) and Sylvie GOULARD (ALDE, FR).

Economic Dialogue with Jānis REIRS, Latvian Minister for Finance: extracts from the debate at the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

Meeting of the Committee on International Trade on Recommendations to the European Commission on the negotiations for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) in the EP in Brussels.Statements by Bernd LANGE (S&D, DE), Rapporteur, Ignacio GARCIA, EU - TTIP Chief Negotiator, David MARTIN (S&D, UK), Jaroslaw WALESA (EPP, PL), Jude KIRTON-DARLING (S&D, UK) and Christofer FJELLNER (EPP, SE).

Recommendations to the European Commission on the negotiations for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP): extracts from the debate on the report by Bernd LANGE (S&D,DE) at the Committee on International Trade

Extracts from the debates during the plenary session of January in Strasbourg on the cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of la around the world. Statements by Guy VERHOFSTADT (ALDE, BE), Ana GOMES (S&amp;D, PT), Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Sajjad KARIM (ECR, UK), Afzal KHAN (S&amp;D, UK) and Ulrike LUNACEK (Greens/EFA, AT)

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

Debate during the plenary session of January in Strasbourg on the main aspects and basic choices of the common foreign and security policy and the common security and defence policy. Statements by&nbsp;Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC,&nbsp;Elmar BROK (EPP, DE),&nbsp;Richard Stuart HOWITT (S&amp;D, UK),&nbsp;Geoffrey VAN ORDEN (ECR, UK),&nbsp;Jozo RADOS (ALDE, HR) and&nbsp;Tam&aacute;s MESZERICS (Greens/EFA, HU).

Main aspects and basic choices of the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Common Security and Defence Policy: extracts from the debate

Debate during the plenary session of January in Strasbourg on&nbsp;Debate during the plenary session of January in Strasbourg. Statements by&nbsp;Laimdota STRAUJUMA, Latvian Prime Minister and President in office of the Council of the EU and Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC.

Programme of activities of the Latvian Presidency: extracts from the Council and Commission statements

Debate during the plenary session of January in Strasbourg on the&nbsp;Programme of activities of the Latvian Presidency. Statements by&nbsp;Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), EPP Group Leader,&nbsp;Giovanni PITTELLA (S&amp;D, IT), S&amp;D Group Leader,&nbsp;Sophia IN'T VELD (ALDE, NL),&nbsp;Dimitrios PAPADIMOULIS (GUE/NGL, EL),&nbsp;Philippe LAMBERTS (Greens/EFA, BE), Greens/EFA Group Leader and&nbsp;Rolandas PAKSAS (EFDD, LT).

Programme of activities of the Latvian Presidency: MEPs debate

Debate during the plenary session of January in Strasbourg of the case of the two Italian Mar&ograve;. Statements by Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Lara COMI (EPP, IT), Pier Antonio PANZERI (S&amp;D, IT), Ivan JAKOVČIĆ (ALDE, HR) and Karima DELLI (Greens/EFA, FR)

Cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law - The case of the two Italian "Marò": extracts from the debate

Debate during the plenary session of January in Strasbourg on the recent atrocities in Northern Nigeria. Statements by&nbsp;Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC,&nbsp;Davor Ivo STIER (EPP, HR),&nbsp;Norbert NEUSER (S&amp;D, DE),&nbsp;Bas BELDER (ECR, NL) and&nbsp;Marietje SCHAAKE (ALDE, NL).

Recent atrocities in Northern Nigeria: extracts from the debate

Debate during the plenary session of January in Strasbourg on Situation in Ukraine. Statements by&nbsp;Federica MOGHERINI,&nbsp;High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy&nbsp;/ Vice-President of the EC,&nbsp;Jacek SARYUSZ-WOLSKI (EPP, PL),&nbsp;Knut FLECKENSTEIN (S&amp;D, DE),&nbsp;Johannes Cornelis van BAALEN (ALDE, NL) and&nbsp;Rebecca HARMS (Greens/EFA, DE).

Cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law - Situation in Ukraine: extracts from the debate

Debate during the plenary session of January in Strasbourg on the review of the Italian Presidency. Statements by&nbsp;Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), EPP Group Leader,&nbsp;Giovanni PITTELLA (S&amp;D, IT), S&amp;D Group Leader,&nbsp;Ryszard LEGUTKO (ECR, PL),&nbsp;Guy VERHOFSTADT (ALDE, BE), ALDE Group Leader,&nbsp;Curzio MALTESE (GUE/NGL, IT),&nbsp;Rebecca HARMS (Greens/EFA, DE), Greens/EFA Group Leader and&nbsp;Herbert REUL (EPP, DE).

Review of the Italian Presidency: extracts from the debate

Debate&nbsp;during the plenary session of January in Strasbourg on the possibility for the Member States to restrict or prohibit the cultivation of GMOs. Extracts from the debate. Statements by&nbsp;Fr&eacute;d&eacute;rique RIES (ALDE, BE), Rapporteur,&nbsp;Vytenis Povilas ANDRIUKAITIS, Member of the EC in charge of Health and Food Safety,&nbsp;Elisabeth K&Ouml;STINGER (EPP, AT), Shadow-rapporteur,&nbsp;Bart STAES (Greens/EFA, BE) and&nbsp;Gilles PARGNEAUX (S&amp;D, FR), Shadow-rapporteur.

Possibility for the Member States to restrict or prohibit the cultivation of GMOs: extracts from the debate

Debate during the plenary session of January in Strasbourg on the situation in Libya. Statement by Federica MOGHERINI,High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and&nbsp;Vice-President of the EC,&nbsp;Mariya GABRIEL (EPP, BG),&nbsp;Pier Antonio PANZERI (S&amp;D, IT),&nbsp;Fernando MAURA BARANDIAR&Aacute;N (ALDE, ES),&nbsp;Javier COUSO PERMUY (GUE/NGL, ES) and&nbsp;Barbara LOCHBIHLER (Greens/EFA, DE).

Situation in Libya: extracts from the debate

Debate during the plenary session of January in Strasbourg on the&nbsp;outcome of the Council meeting in December and the investment plan. Statements by Donald TUSK, President of the European Council and Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC.

Conclusions of the European Council meeting (18 December 2014): Council and Commission statements

Matteo RENZI,&nbsp;Italian Prime Minister&nbsp;is welcomed in the European Parliament in Strasbourg by Martin SCHULZ, EP President.&nbsp;Debate during the plenary session of January in Strasbourg on the Italian Presidency. Statements by Mateo RENZI,&nbsp;President in office of&nbsp;the Council and Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC.

Review of the Italian Presidency: extracts from the statements by Matteo RENZI, President of the Council of the EU and Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC

Debate during the plenary session of January in Strasbourg on the conclusions of the European Council meeting (18 December 2014) and the EU Investment regulation. Statements by Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), EPP Group Leader, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM (S&D, ES), Guy VERHOFSTADT (ALDE, BE), ALDE Group Leader, Dimitrios PAPADIMOULIS (GUE/NGL, EL), Philippe LAMBERTS (Greens/EFA, BE), Co-chair of the Greens/EFA Group and Nigel FARAGE (EFDD, UK).

Conclusions of the European Council meeting (18 December 2014): MEPs debate

Debate during the plenary session of January in Strasbourg on&nbsp;Gun attack on French magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris. Statements by representatives of the political groups,&nbsp;Alain LAMASSOURE (EPP, FR),&nbsp;Pervenche BER&Egrave;S (S&amp;D, FR),&nbsp;Helga STEVENS (ECR, BE),Guy VERHOFSTADT (ALDE, BE),&nbsp;Patrick LE HYARIC (GUE/NGL, FR),&nbsp;Mich&egrave;le RIVASI (Greens/EFA, FR),&nbsp;Nigel FARAGE (EFDD, UK) and&nbsp;Marine LE PEN (NI, FR).

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