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 the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs discuss a recent UN draft report that documents the worst human rights violations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo between 1993 and 2003.

Human rights in the Republic of Congo: extracts of the debate

MEPs debate on the Financial Supervision package, during the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Financial Supervision package: extracts from the debate

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate with the Council and Commission on the Financial supervision package.

Financial supervision package: extracts from the Council and Commission statements and from the debate

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on pharmacovigilance.

Pharmacovigilance: extracts from the debate

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on EU-China relations ahead of EU-China summit on 6 October 2010.

EU-China: extracts from the debate

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the security of gas supply.

Security of gas supply: extracts of the debate

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate on the report by Christa KLASS (EPP, DE) on biocidal products.

Biocidal products: extracts from the debate on the report by Christa KLASS (EPP, DE)

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the new agreement with Pakistan on the readmission by that country of individuals illegally living in the EU.

Agreement between the EC and Pakistan on readmission: extracts from the debate

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on investigation and prevention of accidents and incidents in civil aviation.

Investigation and prevention of accidents and incidents in civil aviation: extracts from the debate on the report by Christine DE VEYRAX (EPP, FR)

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, such as the failure to arrest President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan in Kenya and the case of Haythan Al-Maleh in Syria.

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

During the plenary session of the EUropaen Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes.

Protection of animals used for scientific purposes: extract from the debate

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate with Karel DE GUCHT, European Commission, on the ongoing negotiations on the multilateral Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA).

Ongoing negotiations on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA): extracts from the debate

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strabourg, MPEs debate on freedom of expression and press freedom in the European Union.

Freedom of expression and press freedom in the European Union: extracts from the debate

The Council and the Commission present the conclusions of the special ECOFIN Council meeting of 7 September 2010 to the European Parliament during the plenary session in Strasbourg.

Conclusions of the special ECOFIN Council meeting of 7 September 2010: extracts from the statements by the Council and Commission and debate

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate with Council and Commission on issues surrounding the situation of Roma people in Europe, in particular following the deportations from France to Romania and Bulgaria over the summer months. Parliament will vote tomorrow on resolutions on the issue.

Situation of Roma people in Europe: extracts from the debate

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate with Kristalina GEORGIEVA, European Commissioner for the Budget and Human Resources on state of play of the humanitarian situation in Pakistan.

Humanitarian situation in Pakistan: extracts from the debate with Kristalina GEORGIEVA, European Commissioner for the Budget and Human Resources

Situation of Roma people in Europe: extracts from the statements by the Council and the Commission

MEPs debate on the State of the Union 2010 during the EP plenary session in Strasbourg. Statements by Jospeh DAUL (EPP, FR), Martin SCHULZ (S&D, DE), Guy VERHOFSTADT (ALDE, BE), Daniel Marc COHN-BENDIT (Greens/EFA, DE), Michal Tomasz KAMINSKI (ECR, PL) and Lothar BISKY (GUE/NGL, DE)

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