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

Gordon Brown, British Prime Minister, participate to the debate on the Preparation of the G20 Summit on 2 April.

Preparation of the G20 Summit on 2 April : Statement by Gordon Brown, British Prime Minister

Extracts from the debate on the report by Íñigo MENDEZ de VIGO (PPE-DE, SP) and Richard CORBETT (PSE, UK) followed by the Council and Commission statements and the MEPs debate.

The Lisbon Treaty : extracts from the report by Inigo MENDEZ de VIGO and Richard CORBETT - Council and Commission statements and MEPs debate

Angela MERKEL, German Federal Chancellor, makes a statement during the debate on the outcome of German Presidency in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Outcome of German Presidency: extracts from the statement by Angela MERKEL, German Federal Chancellor

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, an extraordinary plenary session is held in the European Parliament during the Europe Day, in Brussels. To mark this anniversary, a group of European Nobel Prize winners is invited to take part in a debate on the past, present and future of the EU, focusing on its scientific, intellectual and cultural achievements. Among the participants: Rita LEVI-MONTALCINI, Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1986, Timothy HUNT, Noble Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2001, Reinhard SELTEN, Nobel Prize for Economics in 1994, Carlo RUBBIA, Nobel Prize for Physics in 1984, Martinus VELTMAN, Nobel Prize for physics in 1999, John HUME (MEP between 1999 and 2004), Nobel Peace Prize in 1998, Mairead CORRIGAN MAGUIRE, Nobel Peace Prize in 1976, Elisabeth WILLIAMS, Nobel Peace Prize in 1976, and Lech WALESA, Nobel Peace Prize in 1983. The ceremony ends with the playing of the European Hymn - Ode to Joy.

50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome - Address by European Nobel Prize laureates: arrivals and extracts from the extraordinary plenary session

Debate on the Programme of the British Presidency of the EU, during the EP plenary session in Brussels. Response by Tony BLAIR, British Prime Minister, to the debate and intervention by José Manuel BARROSO, President of the EC.

Programme of the British Presidency of the EU: response by Tony BLAIR, British Prime Minister, to the debate

On July 22, 2004, Jose Manuel BARROSO is present at EP Plenary session in Strasbourg as EC presidency candidate. Extracts from statements by MEPs before the vote.

Debate on the approval of Jose Manuel BARROSO as EC President-designate : extracts of the group leaders statements

On July 21, 2004, European Parmliament approved during the plenary session in Strasbourg, the designation of Jose Manuel BARROSO as new EC President.

New President of the European Commission: statement by Jose Manuel BARROSO, EC President designate

During the plenary session (September II 2003), MEPs debate on the report by Christa RANDZIO-PLATH on the nomanination of Jean-Claude TRICHET as President of the European Central Bank, in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Debate on the appointment of Jean-Claude TRICHET as the next President of the European Central Bank: extracts

Members of the Convention discuss during the plenary session of the Convention on the Future of Europe in the European Parliament in Brussels. Extracts from the statements by Valéry GISCARD D'ESTAING, President of the European Convention, Íñigo MENDEZ de VIGO (PPE-DE, SP), Ana PALACIO VALLELERSUNDI, Michel BARNIER, René VAN DER LINDEN Henning CHRISTOPHERSEN and Alojz PETERLE.

Convention on the Future of Europe: extracts from the plenary session

Extracts of the statement of the Council on the EU-US extradition agreement and the International Criminal Court. Statements by Philippos PETSALNIKOS, Greek Minister of Justice, on behalf of the Council, Jorge Salvador HERNANDEZ MOLLAR (PPE, DE), Graham WATSON (ELDR, UK) and Monica FRASSONI (Greens/EFA, BE).

EU-US extradition agreement and the International Criminal Court: extracts from the debate

Extracts from the debate on the situation in Irak during the plenary session in Strasbourg. Statements by Poul NIELSON, Commissioner and Tatso GIANNITSIS, Greek foreign minister.

Situation in Iraq: extracts from the debate

During the plenary session (14-17 May 2001) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the Middle East. Extracts from the statements by Anna LINDH, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs and President in office of the Council of the EU, Chris PATTEN, Member of the EC in charge of External Affairs, Gerardo GALEOTE (EPP, ES), and Jacques F. POOS (PES, LU).

The Middle East: extracts from the debate

Live Replay of the debate on humanitarian assistance in the Mediterranean during the plenary session in Strasbourg (15-18/07/2019)

Humanitarian assistance in the Mediterranean: MEPs debate (15:17-16:14)

Statements during the plenary session by Romano PRODI, Nominee for the Presidency of the European Commission on his work programme and Günter VERHEUGEN, German Foreign Affairs Secretary of State, representative for the Council, followed by debate in the European Parliament.

Statements by Romano PRODI, Nominee for the Presidency of the European Commission on his work programme: extracts

John HUME makes a statement during the plenary session in Strasbourg after the announcement by the Nobel Committee that he will receive the 1998 Nobel Peace Prize. During Easter in 1998, the biggest political parties in Northern Ireland signed a peace agreement, which later became know as the Good Friday agreement. In the autumn of 1998, the Nobel Committee decided to award the Peace Prize to John HUME, who is one of the architects of the peace process in the civil war-torn province.

Statement by John HUME (PES, UK) nominated for the 1998 Nobel Peace Prize

Special Plenary Sitting on the Euro - Address by British Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, and European Commission President, Jacques Santer and oral Report by Karl Von Wogau, Chair of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee on the Commission’s proposal to allow 11 countries to be in the first wave of the Single Currency. Heads of each political Group took the floor to add their comments to the debate.

Special Euro Sitting: extracts

John HUME makes a statement during the plenary session in Strasbourg on Northern Ireland. John HUME is one of the architects of the peace process in the civil-war-torn province.

Statement by John HUME (PES, UK) on Northern Ireland

Lord Plumb as Chairman of the Parliament delegation to Rwanda, reports before the EP on the situation in Rwanda.

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