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 debate about the new developments on the case of Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani, the Iranian woman condemned to death.

Human rights in Iran: extracts from the debate on the case of Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the EU-Korea Free Trade Agreement.

EU-Korea Free Trade Agreement: extract from the debate

The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) debate on issues surrounding the situation of Roma people in Europe, in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Situation of Roma people in Europe: extracts from the debate

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 case of Farai Maguwu in Zimbabwe, the case of Maria Lourdes Afiuni in Venezuela and the situation in North Korea.

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 debate on the future of the CAP after 2013.

Future of the CAP after 2013: extracts from the debate

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs vote on the progress made by Albania and Kosovo towards EU membership.

Progress made by Albania and Kosovo towards EU membership: extracts from the vote

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate with Stefan FULE, EU Commissioner for Enlargement on the progress made by Albania and Kosovo towards EU membership.

Progress made by Albania and Kosovo towards EU membership: extracts from the debate

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate following the presentation by Yves LETERME, Belgian Prime Minister and President of the Council, of the programme of the incoming Belgian presidency.

Programme of the Belgian presidency: extracts from the debate

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on with the Council and the Commission on Iceland's application for membership of the European Union.

Iceland's application for membership of the European Union: extracts from the debate

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

Financial supervision: extracts from the debate

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate with José Manuel BARROSO, President of the EC, on the economic governance in the EU and the Euro zone and the surveillance of national budgets.

Economic governance in the EU and the Euro zone and surveillance of national budgets: extract from the statement by José Manuel BARROSO, President of the EC

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasourg, MEPs debate on the outcome of the Spanish Presidency.

Outcome of the Spanish Presidency: extracts from the debate

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate about the transfer of financial messaging data from the EU to the USA for purposes of the Terrorist Finance Tracking Program.

EU - USA Agreement on the processing and transfer of financial messaging data for purposes of the Terrorist Finance Tracking Program (TFTP): extracts from the debate

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on capital requirement for the trading book and resecuritisation and supervisory review of renumeration policies.

Bankers bonuses: extracts from the debate

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

Passenger rights: extracts from the debate

During the extraordinary plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate on the conclusions of the European Council (17 June 2010).

Conclusions of the European Council (17 June 2010): extracts from the debate

During the plenary session (14-17 June 2010) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate a series of marine issue: commercial whaling, aquaculture industry and the state of the blue fin tuna (thunnus thynnus) fisheries.

A catch documentation programme for bluefin tuna: extracts from the debate

During the plenary session (14-17 June 2010) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the following G20 summit and the next steps of European financial and economic policy.

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