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?

Have you ever heard of the Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament?
From their job title, it’s clear that they play a crucial role in Parliament and must be important political figures. 
But do you know what the Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament really do, who they are and how they are elected?

Jargon Jungle: the Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament

Out of the jargon jungle. The role of the European Parliament President?

The role of the European Parliament President?

It’s time to vote! Between 6 and 9 June this year, millions of EU citizens will help shape the future of the European Union by voting in the European elections. The European Parliament is the only directly elected EU body and the European elections are one of the biggest democratic events in the world. Join us in this episode as we take a closer look at how the voting system works. Don’t miss this chance to find out how your vote counts!

The European elections explained: how does the voting system work?

AFET Committee - Votes

The European elections are the largest transnational elections in the world. There are some common rules that apply in all EU countries but many details vary by country.


Election days range from Thursday 6 June to Sunday 9 June and it is up to each country to decide when and how they organise the vote.


The number of MEPs elected varies between countries: bigger countries get more seats than smaller ones. Due to changes in the size of the population, some EU countries will get extra seats in the upcoming elections compared to the outgoing Parliament. In total 15 seats will be added.


There are also differences in other aspects of voting, for example regarding the minimum voting age or the rules about voting from abroad.

EU Elections 2024

EP Plenary session - Voting session

EP Plenary session - Voting session - General Budget 2025

AFET - Votes on Turkiye, Belarus and Switzerland

JURI Committee -  Vote on  its position on a draft bill on the protection of the environment through criminal law

TRAN Committee - Vote on Amending Directive 2010/40/EU on the framework for the deployment of Intelligent Transport Systems in the field of road transport and for interfaces with other modes of transport

EP Plenary session - Voting session.

ENVI Committee - Vote on a Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe - Statement by Dolors MONTSERRAT

EP plenary session - Announcement of the results of the second voting session

EP Plenary session - Announcement of the results of the first voting session

Following a debate with Ursula von der Leyen on her new team and programme, MEPs elected the College of Commissioners as a whole by roll-call vote. 370 MEPs voted in favour, 282 against, and 36 abstained.

Vote on the election of the College of Commissioners: Parliament approves the “von der Leyen II” Commission

Parliament’s committees subjected each Commissioner-designate to individual public hearings between 4 and 12 November. MEPs assessed their suitability to become Commissioners, as well as their ability to carry out the duties linked to their respective portfolios. Once Parliament’s Conference of Presidents (President Metsola and the political group leaders) has conducted the final evaluation and declared the hearings process closed, the full Parliament will vote on the entire list of candidates. The roll call vote on the new Commission is scheduled for Wednesday at noon.

Vote on resolution on the presentation by the Commission President-elect of the College of Commissioners and its programme

This news item shows atmosphere shots from the voting session following the debate with European Commission President-elect von der Leyen on her team and programme ant the Signature of the Transmission Letter on the Election of the European Commission. MEPs elected the College of Commissioners as a whole by roll-call vote - 370 MEPs voted in favour, 282 against, and 36 abstained. This will be Ursula von der Leyen’s second term as Commission President, following the approval of her first Commission by MEPs in November 2019.

Presentation by the Commission President-elect of the College of Commissioners and its programme: atmosphere shots from the voting session

Csaba Molnár (CONT 21/11): Partial renewal of a member of the Court of Auditors – Motions for a resolution: Objection pursuant to Rule 115(2) and (3): Genetically modified maize - Objection pursuant to Rule 115(2) and (3): Genetically modified cotton - Objection pursuant to Rule 115(2) and (3): Genetically modified maize and eight of its sub-combinations - Objection pursuant to Rule : Genetically modified maize - Objection pursuant to Rule 115(2) and (3): Genetically modified maize - Objection pursuant to Rule 115(2) and (3): Genetically modified maize - Objection pursuant to Rule 115(2) and (3): Genetically modified maize DP202216 115(2-3) - Objection pursuant to Rule 115(2) and (3): Genetically modified maize

Voting Session

MEPs vote on the following topics: MRs - UN Climate Change Conference 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan (COP29); and MRs - EU actions against the Russian shadow fleets and ensuring a full enforcement of sanctions against Russia (Debate: 23/10/2024).

Voting session part 2

MEPs vote on the following topics: Regional Emergency Support to Reconstruction amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1058 and Regulation (EU) 2021/1057; AGRI - Specific measures under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) to provide additional assistance to Member States affected by natural disasters; ENVI - Deforestation Regulation: provisions relating to the date of application; (A10-0012/2024) LALUCQ ECON - Electronic value added tax exemption certificate; (A10-0011/2024) DORFMANN ECON - Faster and Safer Relief of Excess Withholding Taxes (Vote: 28/02/2024); and (A10-0013/2024) STREIT BUDG - Amendment of the EIB's Statute.

Voting session part 1

The UN Climate Change Conference (COP 29) takes place from 11 to 22 November 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan, gathering world leaders and climate experts to define a new global goal for climate finance and advance climate action. MEPs call on all countries to set a socially fair and equitable climate finance goal, aligned with the polluter-pays principle and incorporating diverse public, private, and innovative financial resources. The resolution further urges the EU to create a stable finance mechanism to ensure reliable support for its climate finance obligations, reinforcing the EU's leadership role in global climate action and the importance of predictable funding for effective climate policies. This news items shows extracts from the debate (13/11) and from the vote (14/11), and statement by Lídia PEREIRA (EPP, PT), Chair of the EP delegation to COP 29.

UN Climate Change Conference 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan (COP29): extracts from the debate (13/11) and from the vote (14/11), and statement by Lídia PEREIRA (EPP, PT), Chair of the EP delegation to COP 29

MEPs vote on the following topics: Siegfried Mureşan (BUDG A10-0005/2024) - Draft amending budget No 2/2024: entering the surplus of the financial year 2023; Siegfried Mureşan (BUDG A10-0007/2024) - Draft amending budget 4/2024: update of revenue (own resources) and adjustments to some decentralised agencies; Michalis Hadjipantela (BUDG A10/-) - Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: application EGF/2024/001 BE/Match-Smatch; Jonas Sjöstedt (CONT A10-0003/2024) - Discharge 2022: EU general budget – European Council and Council.

Voting session

MEPs vote on strengthening Moldova's resilience against Russian interference ahead of the upcoming presidential elections and a constitutional referendum on EU integration; and on the democratic backsliding and threats to political pluralism in Georgia.

Votes incl. Moldova's resilience against Russian interference and democratic backsliding in Georgia

MEPs vote on the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund - assistance to Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Greece and France further to natural disasters occurred in 2023.

Voting session on the EU Solidarity Fund

MEPs vote on the following topics: The deteriorating situation of women in Afghanistan due to the recent adoption of the law on the “Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice” - The severe situation of political prisoners in Belarus - The case of José Daniel Ferrer García in Cuba - BUDKA (ITRE) - EU/USA Agreement on launch of Galileo satellites from U.S. territory - Continued financial and military support to Ukraine by EU Member States - Situation in Venezuela - The devastating floods in Central and Eastern Europe, the loss of lives and the EU’s preparedness to act on such disasters exacerbated by climate change.

MEPs vote on the following topics: Numerical strength of interparliamentary delegations; Maximum residue levels for carbendazim and thiophanatemethyl; and Maximum residue levels for cyproconazol.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President announces the result of the vote of the election of the President of the European Commission: Ursula VON DER LEYEN is reelected President of the European Commission with 401 votes in favour.

Election of the President of the European Commission: announcement of the results of the vote

MEPs vote on the election of the President of the European Commission. Before the vote, Ursula VON DER LEYEN, candidate for a second mandate 2024-2029 presented her political priorities and outlined her vision and plans as Commission President

Election of the President of the European Commission: order of business

MEPs vote in the election of the President of the European Commission. Before the vote, Ursula VON DER LEYEN, candidate for a second mandate 2024-2029 presented her political priorities and outlined her vision and plans as Commission President

Election of the President of the European Commission: atmosphere in the chamber

This news item shows cutaways and illustrations during the vote on Ursula von der Leyen’s nomination for Commission President. The vote by secret paper ballot took place 18/07/2024 at 13h, following the debate.

Election of the President of the European Commission: atmosphere shots from the vote

MEPs vote by secret paper ballot after the debate with Ursula von der Leyen on her political priorities and outline her vision and plans as Commission President. To be elected, von der Leyen will need the backing of an absolute majority of the Parliament (more than half of its members) .

Election of the President of the European Commission: votes

MEPs vote on the number and size of Parliament’s standing committees, sub-committees and delegations. Membership of the committees will be announced on Friday. The composition of its committees and subcommittees should as far as possible reflect the composition of Parliament as a whole. The proportional distribution of committee seats among political groups must not depart from the nearest appropriate whole number.

911 results