A formal sitting is&nbsp;held to mark an official visit to the European Parliament, made at the President’s invitation after consulting with the Conference of Presidents.

The official guest is seated to the right of the President on the podium. After the welcoming remarks by the President, the official guest addresses the&nbsp; Parliament from the central rostrum in the Chamber.

The address for a formal sitting of Parliament&nbsp;usually lasts 30 minutes and generally takes place before the voting session.

Formal Sittings

EP Mini-Plenary Session - Formal sitting - Address by His Majesty King Philippe, King of the Belgians

EP Plenary session - Formal sitting with William RUTO, President of the Republic of Kenya

EP Plenary session - Formal sitting with Nikol PASHINYAN, Armenian Prime Minister

EP Plenary session - Formal Sitting - Address by Vjosa OSMANI-SADRIU, President of Kosovo

EP Plenary session - Formal sitting with Salome ZOURABICHVILI, President of Georgia

EP Plenary session - Formal Sitting - Address by Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of Portugal

EP Plenary session - Formal sitting - address by Volodymyr ZELENSKYY, Ukrainian President

Volodymyr ZELENSKYY meets with political groups leaders.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Volodymyr ZELENSKYY, Ukrainian President

EP Plenary session - Formal sitting - Address by Zuzana Caputová, President of the Slovak Republic

EP plenary session - Formal sitting - Address by His Majesty King Abdullah II, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

Official visit of the President of Guinea - Formal sitting in plenary session

Official visit of the Secretary-General of the United Nations - Formal sitting

Formal sitting with  Beji Caid Essebsi, President of Tunisia

Plenary session week 21 2016 in Brussels    Official visit of the King of the Netherlands to the European Parliament in Brussels.

ILVES, Tomaas Hendrik - Estonian President;  SCHULZ, Martin (S&D, DE)

Official visit of the Estonian President to the European Parliament in Strasbourg.  Formal Sitting.

EP President Roberta Metsola, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, former EP President Pat Cox, and former Commission President Romano Prodi participate in a formal sitting of Parliament to mark the 20th anniversary of the 2004 EU enlargement round along with representatives from the ten countries that joined the EU 20 years ago. During the ceremony, the guests answer questions from a group of young people born on or around 1 May 2004 from the Member States, who are invited to attend the sitting.

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement: Ode to Joy, performed by the Voix de Stras' acapella choir

EP President Roberta Metsola, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, former EP President Pat Cox, and former Commission President Romano Prodi participate in a formal sitting of Parliament to mark the 20th anniversary of the 2004 EU enlargement round along with representatives from the ten countries, that joined the EU 20 years ago. During the ceremony, the guests answer questions from a group of young people born on or around 1 May 2004 from the new Member States, who are invited to attend the sitting.

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement: One round of Political group leaders

EP President Roberta Metsola, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, former EP President Pat Cox, and former Commission President Romano Prodi participate in a formal sitting of Parliament to mark the 20th anniversary of the 2004 EU enlargement round along with representatives from the ten countries that joined the EU 20 years ago. During the ceremony, the guests answer questions from a group of young people born on or around 1 May 2004 from the Member States, who are invited to attend the sitting. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement: Speech by Romano PRODI, former President of the European Commission

EP President Roberta Metsola, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, former EP President Pat Cox, and former Commission President Romano Prodi participate in a formal sitting of Parliament to mark the 20th anniversary of the 2004 EU enlargement round along with representatives from the ten countries, that joined the EU 20 years ago. During the ceremony, the guests answer questions from a group of young people born on or around 1 May 2004 from the new Member States, who are invited to attend the sitting. Three young guests ask questions Georgios IACOVOU, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, Antanas VALIONIS, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania and Pavel TELIČKA, former Chief Negotiator for the Czech Republic's EU accession negotiations.

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement: Young guests ask questions Georgios IACOVOU, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, Antanas VALIONIS, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania and Pavel TELIČKA, former Czech Chief Negotiator

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement: Speech by Pat COX, former President of the European Parliament

EP President Roberta Metsola, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, former EP President Pat Cox, and former Commission President Romano Prodi participate in a formal sitting of Parliament to mark the 20th anniversary of the 2004 EU enlargement round along with representatives from the ten countries, that joined the EU 20 years ago. During the ceremony, the guests answer questions from a group of young people born on or around 1 May 2004 from the new Member States, who are invited to attend the sitting. Four young guests ask questions to Leszek MILLER, former Prime Minister of Poland, Anton ROP, former Prime Minister of Slovenia, Mikuláš DZURINDA, Former Prime Minister of Slovakia and Christina OJULAND, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia.

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement: Guests ask questions to Leszek MILLER, former Polish PM, Anton ROP, former Slovenian PM, Mikuláš DZURINDA, Slovak Former PM and Christina OJULAND, former Estonian Minister

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement: Speech by Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission

EP President Roberta Metsola, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, former EP President Pat Cox, and former Commission President Romano Prodi participate in a formal sitting of Parliament to mark the 20th anniversary of the 2004 EU enlargement round along with representatives from the ten countries, that joined the EU 20 years ago. During the ceremony, the guests answer questions from a group of young people born on or around 1 May 2004 from the new Member States, who are invited to attend the sitting. Three young guests ask questions to Vaira VĪĶE-FREIBERGA, former President of Latvia, Péter MEDGYESSY, former Prime Minister of Hungary and Lawrence GONZI, former Prime Minister of Malta.

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement: Three young guests ask questions to Vaira VĪĶE-FREIBERGA, former President of Latvia, Péter MEDGYESSY, former Prime Minister of Hungary and Lawrence GONZI, former Prime Minister of Malta

EP President Roberta Metsola, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, former EP President Pat Cox, and former Commission President Romano Prodi participate in a formal sitting of Parliament to mark the 20th anniversary of the 2004 EU enlargement round along with representatives from the ten countries that joined the EU 20 years ago. During the ceremony, the guests answer questions from a group of young people born on or around 1 May 2004 from the ten member states, who are invited to attend the sitting. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement: Speech by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

EP President Roberta Metsola, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, former EP President Pat Cox, and former Commission President Romano Prodi participate in a formal sitting of Parliament to mark the 20th anniversary of the 2004 EU enlargement round along with representatives from the ten countries, that joined the EU 20 years ago. During the ceremony, the guests answer questions from a group of young people born on or around 1 May 2004 from the new Member States, who are invited to attend the sitting. Opening statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President; and clip Born European - 20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement: Opening statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Clip "Born European - 20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement"

EP President Roberta Metsola, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, former EP President Pat Cox, and former Commission President Romano Prodi participates in a formal sitting of Parliament to mark the 20th anniversary of the 2004 EU enlargement round along with representatives from the ten countries, that joined the EU 20 years ago. During the ceremony, the guests answer questions from a group of young people born on or around 1 May 2004 from the new member states, who are invited to attend the sitting.

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement: extracts from the ceremony

His Majesty King Philippe, King of the Belgians, addresses MEPs in a formal sitting during the plenary session. This is the first time King Philippe addresses the European Parliament. One of his predecessors, King Baudouin, appeared before MEPs in 1987, during a plenary session in Strasbourg. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Formal sitting - Address by His Majesty King Philippe, King of the Belgians

EP President Metsola meets His Majesty King Philippe, King of the Belgians, before he addresses the plenary. This news item shows the arrival, meeting and extracts from the address in plenary. This will be the first time King Philippe will have addressed the European Parliament. One of his predecessors, King Baudouin, appeared before MEPs in 1987, during a plenary session in Strasbourg.

Visit of Philippe, King of the Belgians to the European Parliament: arrival, meeting with Roberta METSOLA, EP President and extracts from the address in plenary

Following European elections in May 2019, the Parliament held its constituent session on 2 July 2019. Parliament, Council, and the Commission identified common priorities and committed to deliver on before the 2024 European Elections. With the series of videos "European Parliament’s priorities and achievements (2019-2024)", have a look back at the different legislative and political achievements reached by the EP. Between 2019 and 2024, several Heads of State or Government visited the EP, met with the President and MEPs, addressed the plenary.

European Parliament’s priorities and achievements (2019-2024): High-level and official visits to the European Parliament

Following European elections in May 2019, the Parliament held its constituent session on 2 July 2019. Parliament, Council, and the Commission identified common priorities and committed to deliver on before the 2024 European Elections. With the series of videos "European Parliament’s priorities and achievements (2019-2024)", have a look back at the different legislative and political achievements reached by the EP. Between 2019 and 2024, several ceremonies and events have been organised inside and outside of the walls of the EP, in Brussels and Strasbourg, paying tributes to authorities or victims, remembering historical moments from the past.

European Parliament’s priorities and achievements (2019-2024): Tributes and ceremonies in the European Parliament

William RUTO, President of Kenya, addresses the hemicycle during his formal sitting in the plenary session in Strasbourg. William Ruto has served as his country’s president since September 2022. He previously held other high-level political posts, including that of Deputy President and several ministerial positions. More information is available on the official website of the President of Kenya. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Formal sitting with William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya: Address by William RUTO, President of Kenya

After the majority of ethnic Armenians had to flee the Nagorno-Karabakh region following the Azerbaijani military attack, Nikol PASHINYAN, Armenian Prime Minister, officially visits the European Parliament. This news item shows extracts from the arrival of the Armenian Prime Minister to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, the welcome of Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, and his address to the MEPs in the hemicycle.

Formal sitting with Nikol PASHINYAN, Armenian Prime Minister: arrival and welcome by Roberta METSOLA, EP President; and extracts from the address to the plenary

This news item shows the arrival and welcome meeting with Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, of Petr PAVEL, President of the Czech Republic and extracts of his address to the plenary. President of the Czech Republic visits the European Parliament in occasion of a formal sitting session, following his visit to the EU institutions in April 2023 - one of his first foreign trips after his election.

Formal sitting with Petr PAVEL, President of the Czech Republic: arrival, welcome and meeting with Roberta METSOLA, EP President; and extracts from the address to the plenary

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