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

The new rules aim to prevent rape and raise awareness on consent, while female genital mutilation and forced marriage are included as crimes under EU law. After the deal reached between the Parliament and the Council, MEPs debate on Tuesday and vote on Wednesday on the first EU rules on combating violence against women and domestic violence. The new directive prohibits forced marriage and female genital mutilation and have specific rules on cybercrimes, such as cyber-flashing and cyber-stalking. Victims improves access to justice and to healthcare, including sexual and reproductive services, while the legislation will include provisions to prevent rape.

Combatting violence against women and domestic violence: extracts from the debate (23.04) and from the vote (24.04)

EP Plenary session - Voting Session (part 2) incl. repair of goods and fight against human trafficking

European Parliament approved new rules promoting the repair of goods. This footage shows MEPs debating and voting on the provisional agreement reached with the Member States on the so-called “right to repair” for consumers. Consumers receive a new right to claim repair for products that are technically repairable under EU law (e.g. washing machines, vacuum cleaners, and smartphones). To encourage repair and to revitalise the EU repair market, the rules also put in place a European online platform to find local repair shops or sellers of refurbished goods. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Common rules promoting the repair of goods: extracts from the debate (22.04) and from the vote

Voting session: Discharge 2022 (part 1)

EP Mini-Plenary session - Voting session: Discharge 2022

Voting session: Discharge 2022 (part 2)

MEPs vote on the following topics: Amendments to Parliament’s Rules of Procedure implementing the parliamentary reform “Parliament 2024”; Common procedure for international protection in the Union; Addressing situations of crisis in the field of migration and asylum; Asylum and migration management; Establishing a return border procedure, and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1148; Screening of third country nationals at the external borders; European Criminal Records Information System - Third Country Nationals; Establishment of 'Eurodac' for the comparison of fingerprints for the effective application of Regulation (EU) No 604/2013; Union Resettlement Framework; Standards for the qualification of third-country nationals or stateless persons as beneficiaries of international protection; and Standards for the reception of applicants for international protection.

Voting Session: Migration and Asylum package

MEPs vote on the following topics: Laying down additional procedural rules relating to the enforcement of Regulation (EU) 2016/679; New Regulation on Construction Products; Amending Directive 2013/34/EU as regards the time limits for the adoption of sustainability reporting standards for certain sectors and for certain third-country undertakings; Methane emissions reduction in the energy sector; Mercury: dental amalgam and other mercury-added products subject to manufacturing, import and export restrictions; Strengthening the CO2 emission performance targets for new heavy-duty vehicles; Foodstuffs for human consumption: amending certain 'Breakfast' Directives; European environmental economic accounts: new modules; Union certification framework for carbon removals; Standards for equality bodies in the field of equal treatment and equal opportunities between women and men in matters of employment and occupation; and other topics.

Voting Session

The European Parliament give its final green light to the reform of the EU’s Asylum and Migration Pact. The new rules will ensure responsibility sharing among member states in the management of migrant arrivals, a more efficient response in case of crisis, and respect of fundamental rights. Before the vote, MEPs review the ten legal acts in a debate with Council and Commission. This news item includes extracts from debate, from the final votes, and from press point with the EU Council Presidency, and the Presidents of the European Parliament and Commission.

Migration and Asylum package: extracts from the debate, from the votes and from the press point

EP Plenary session - Voting session, including the resolution regarding the immediate risk of mass starvation in Gaza and the attacks on humanitarian aid deliveries, the resolution regarding the repressive environment in Afghanistan, including public executions and violence against women, and the resolution about the adoption of the Special Measure in favour of Tunisia for 2023. It also includes the vote on the case of Rocío San Miguel and General Hernández Da Costa, the subscription by the European Union to additional shares in the capital of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and amending the Agreement establishing the EBRD, financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union, the return of Romanian national treasure illegally appropriated by Russia, the creation of a European initiative for an annual designation of European capitals for children and the ohesion policy 2014-2020 – implementation and outcomes in the Member States

EP Plenary session - Voting session, including the resolutions about Gaza, Afghanistan and Tunisia

MEPs vote on the following topics: EMF Act; AI Act; Directive on alternative dispute resolution for consumer disputes; Regulation on discontinuation of the European ODR Platform; Asset recovery and confiscation; IMI and the Single Digital Gateway; Compulsory licensing for crisis management; Safety of toys; Amending Directive on waste; A single application procedure for a single permit for third-country nationals to reside and work in the Member State; European cross-border associations; Amending Regulations in the fields of road transport and aviation; Amending Directives in the fields of road transport and aviation; Minimum requirements on minimum breaks and daily and weekly rest periods in the occasional passenger transport sector; Establishing the Union Customs Code and the European Union Customs Authority; Amending Regulation on European statistics.

Voting session, including the European Media Freedom Act and the Artificial Intelligence Act

MEPs debate on the following topics: The subscription by the EU to additional shares in the capital of the EBRD; Regulation (EU) No 2022/869 of the EP and of the Council; Industrial Emissions Directive; Industrial Emissions Portal; Definition of criminal offences and penalties for the violation of Union restrictive measures; Amending Council Directive 96/53/EC laying down for certain road vehicles circulating; Use of railway infrastructure capacity in the single European railway area; Amending certain financial services and investment; Energy performance of buildings; Horizontal cybersecurity requirements for products with digital elements; Green Claims Directive; Liability for defective products; Amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 as regards the digital labelling of EU fertilising products; European Maritime Safety Agency; Council decision inviting Member States to ratify the Violence and Harassment Convention; and Extending Rule 168 of EP's rules.

Voting session, including the final vote on the Energy performance of buildings Directive

MEPs debate and vote on a new directive to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions from the buildings sector, and make it climate neutral by 2050. The revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, agreed with the Council in December, aims to substantially reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy consumption in the EU building sector by 2030, and have it achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The new rules also mean more of the worst-performing buildings will undergo renovation, and information-sharing on energy performance will be improved. New buildings must be zero-emission as of 2030, and new buildings occupied or owned by public authorities must be zero-emission as of 2028. For residential buildings, member states have to put in place measures to ensure a reduction in the average level of primary energy used of at least 16% by 2030 and at least 20-22% by 2035.

Energy performance of buildings: extracts from the debate and from the vote

MEPs vote on the following files: Economic Partnership Agreement between the Republic of Kenya and the European Union, Conclusion of an Agreement between the European union and the Republic of Seychelles on access for Seychelles fishing vessels to the waters of Mayotte, Data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services, Interim Agreement on Trade between the European Union and the Republic of Chile, Advanced Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States and the Republic of Chile, Amending Regulations (EU) No 1227/2011 and (EU) 2019/942, European Digital Identity framework, The murder of Alexei Navalny and the need for EU action in support of political prisoners and oppressed civil society in Russia, The need for unwavering EU support for Ukraine, after two years of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, Critical situation in Cuba

Voting session, including a resolution on the need for unwavering EU support for Ukraine

President of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Nadia CALVIÑO speaks at the end of the debate and vote on the annual report 2023.

Financial activities of the European Investment Bank - annual report 2023: extracts from the debate, from the vote and statement by Nadia CALVIÑO, President of the European Investment Bank (EIB)

MEPs vote on the following topics: McAllister (A9-0389/2023) - Implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2023, Mikser (A9-0403/2023) - Implementation of the common security and defence policy – annual report 2023, Sánchez Amor (A9-0424/2023) - Human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter – annual report 2023, Cormand (A9-0031/2024) - Financial activities of the European Investment Bank - annual report 2023, in 't Veld (A9-0025/2024) - Report on the Commission’s 2023 Rule of Law report, and Loiseau (A9-0041/2024) - Recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the EEAS on the situation in Syria.

Voting session, including the report on the Implementation of the common foreign and security policy

MEPs vote on the following topics: Delli (A9-0445/2023) - Driving licences, Wölken (A9-0020/2024) - Unitary supplementary protection certificate for plant protection products, Wölken (A9-0019/2024) - Unitary supplementary certificate for medicinal products, and amending Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, Regulation (EC) No 1901/2006 as well as Regulation (EU) No 608/2013, Wölken (A9-0023/2024) - Supplementary protection certificate for plant protection products (recast), Wölken (A9-0022/2024) - Supplementary protection certificate for medicinal products (recast), Cavazzini (A9-0009/2024) Amending Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013, Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 and Regulation (EU) No 168/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards certain reporting requirements, Ernst (LIBE A9-0032/2024) - Report on the ongoing negotiations on a status agreement on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) in Senegal

Voting session, including the vote on driving licences

MEPs vote on the following topics: Luena (A9-0220/2023) - Nature restoration; Gozi (A9-0009/2023) - Transparency and targeting of political advertising; Ripa (ENVI 14/02) - Detergents and surfactants, amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 648/2004; Borchia (A9-0378/2023) - Amending Decision (EU) 2017/1324 as regards the continuation of the Union’s participation in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) under Horizon Europe; Manders (A9-0087/2023) - Protection of the environment through criminal law; and Van Overveldt (A9-0412/2023) - Report on the European Central Bank – annual report 2023.

Voting session: Nature restoration

MEPs vote on the following topics: Olbrycht, Marques (A9xxxx/2024) - Multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027; resolution Olbrycht, Marques Multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027 - resolution; Gahler, Gardiazabal Rubial (A9-0286/2023) - Establishing the Ukraine Facility; Fernandes, Ehler (A9-0290/2023) - Establishing the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (‘STEP’); Wölken (A9-0223/2023) - Protection of journalists and human rights defenders from manifestly unfounded or abusive court proceedings; Cicurel (A9-0278/2023) - Proposed amendments to Protocol No 3 on the Statute of the Court of Justice of the European Union; Weiss (A9-0290/2022) - Shipments of waste; and Fernández (A9-0344/2023) - Certain aspects of the minimum requirement for own funds and eligible liabilities.

903 results