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

Debate on the Sakharov Prize Network - origins, achievements and the way forward: extracts from the debate with Hans-Gert PÖTTERING (EPP, DE) and Jerzy Karol BUZEK (EPP, PL), former EP Presidents

The Sakharov Prize Network - origins, achievements and the way forward: extracts from the debate with Hans-Gert PÖTTERING (EPP, DE) and Jerzy Karol BUZEK (EPP, PL), former EP Presidents

MEPs' debate on the State of the Union 2012, during the EP plenary session in Strasbourg. Statements by Graham WATSON (ALDE, UK), Philippe LAMBERTS (Greens/EFA, BE), Raül ROMEVA i RUEDA (Greens/EFA, ES), Manuel BARROSO, President of the EC, Joseph DAUL (EPP, FR), Martin SCHULZ, EP President, and Guy VERHOFSTADT (ALDE, BE).

State of the Union 2012: extracts from MEPs' debate

Statements following the votes on the economic governance "six-pack", which aims to prevent Eurozone members from simply ignoring Commission warnings to correct their budgetary policies and make them tackle economic imbalances more promptly.

Economic Governance Package: extrcts of the statements by the rapporteurs

MEPs discuss about sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children, a report by Roberta ANGELILLI (EPP, IT), rapporteur with Stefan DE CLERCK, on behalf the Belgian Presidency, in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children: extracts from the report by Roberta ANGELILLI (EPP, IT), rapporteur

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate on the EU external strategy on Passenger Name Record (PNR).

EU external strategy on Passenger Name Record (PNR): extracts from the debate

During the plenary session of the European Parlament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate and vote on Caucasus, in particular the case of Oleg Orlov.

North Caucasus, in particular the case of Oleg Orlov: extracts from the debate, from the vote and illustrative material

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, such as forced evictions in Zimbabwe and the case of Sam Rainsy.

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

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs discuss the progress Moldova has made and the political situation in the run up to the elections next month with Stefan FÜLE, European Commissioner for Enlargement.

Reforms and developments in the Republic of Moldova: extracts from the debate

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the financial, economic and social crisis.

Financial, economic and social crisis: extracts from the debate

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate with the Council and the Commission on the European External Action Service.

European External Action Service: extracts from the debate

During the plenary session od the European Parliament in Strasbourh, MEPs discussed with the Commission, Council and the High Representatives the report drafted by Ingeborg GRÄSSLE (EPP, DE) and Crescenzio RIVELLINI (EPP, IT) on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities, as regards the European External Action Service.

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the fight against poverty following the Council and Commission statements.

Fight against poverty: extracts from the debate

MEPs debate on the Cohesion and regional policy during the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels.

Cohesion and regional policy: extracts from the debate

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate on biodiversity.

Biodiversity: extracts from the debate

MEPs debate on the EU action on oil exploration and extraction in Europe, in the European Parliament in Brussels.

EU action on oil exploration and extraction in Europe: extract from the debate

MEPs debate the death penalty ahead of the International Day against the Death Penalty on 10 October, in the European Parliament in Brussels.

World day against the death penalty: extracts from the debate

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs discuss how to stop imports into the EU of products made by prisoners in Chinese labour camps.

Import of LAOGAI made goods into the EU: extracts from the debate

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the new fee imposed by the US Congress to Europe's travellers.

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