Mr TAJANI was elected President of the European Parliament on 17 January 2017.

The President chairs the plenary sittings of Parliament, the Conference of the Presidents of Political Groups and the Bureau of Parliament. The President is responsible for the application of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament, and, to this end, oversees all the activities of Parliament and its bodies. The President represents Parliament in all legal matters. He addresses the European Council prior to each of its meetings, stating Parliament's viewpoint on the subjects on the agenda in the framework of a debate with the heads of state and government. The President represents Parliament in its international relations, and, in this connection, undertakes official visits within and outside the EU. The President signs the EU budget into being following Parliament's vote on it at second reading. During the procedure, the President chairs the EP/Council conciliation delegations. The President may, under the EP/Council codecision procedure, chair the EP/Council conciliation committee.

EP plenary session - introductory remarks by Antonio TAJANI, EP President on the floods in France, Italy and Spain, on the terrorists attack on the polling station in Afghanistan, on press freedom and the request of the EP for an independant inquiry on the death of Jamal Khashoggi