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

MEPs vote during the plenary session on several reports/amendments: Inese Vaidere (INTA 15/05) - Modification of customs duties applicable to imports of certain goods originating in or exported directly or indirectly from the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus / Veronika Vrecionová (AGRI A10-0043/2025) - Granting equivalence with EU requirements to Moldova and Ukraine as regards field inspections and production of seed/ Amendments to the Capital Requirements Regulation as regards securities financing transactions under the net stable funding ratio/ Borys Budka (ITRE A10-0083/2025) - Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community for the period 2026-2027 complementing Horizon Europe – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation and repealing Council Regulation (Euratom) 2021/765/ Ondřej Knotek (CONT 14/05) - Partial renewal of Members of the Court of Auditors - HR nominee

Votes

MEPs vote on the following files: Arrest and risk of execution of Tundu Lissu, Chair of Chadema, the main opposition party in Tanzania, Return of Ukrainian children forcibly transferred and deported by Russia, Violations of religious freedom in Tibet, Ninth report on economic and social cohesion, CO2 emission performance standards, The protection status of the wolf (Canis lupus), The role of gas storage for securing gas supplies ahead of the winter season, The screening of foreign investments in the Union and repealing Regulation (EU) 2019/452 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Suspending certain parts of Regulation (EU) 2015/478 as regards imports of Ukrainian products into the European Union, Competition policy – annual report 2024, Banking Union – annual report 2024, Objection (ENVI) Genetically modified soybean, Old challenges and new commercial practices in the internal market.

Voting session

Votes on the following reports: Mureşan, Tavares (A10-0076/2025) - A revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world; Bajada (A10-0073/2025) - The European Water Resilience Strategy; Sánchez Amor (A10-0067/2025) - 2023 and 2024 Commission reports on Türkiye; Picula (A10-0072/2025) - 2023 and 2024 reports on Serbia; and Terras (A10-0075/2025) - 2023 and 2024 reports on Kosovo

Votes on reports

2023 discharge: EU general budget – Commission, executive agencies and European Development Funds / 2023 discharge: EU general budget - European Parliament / 2023 discharge: EU general budget - European Council and Council / 2023 discharge: EU general budget - Court of Justice of the European Union / 2023 discharge: EU general budget - Court of Auditors / 2023 discharge: EU general budget - European Economic and Social Committee / 2023 discharge: EU general budget - Committee of the Regions / 2023 discharge: EU general budget - European Ombudsman / 2023 discharge: EU general budget - European Data Protection Supervisor / 2023 discharge: EU general budget - European External Action Service / 2023 discharge: European Public Prosecutor's Office / 2023 discharge: Agencies / 2023 discharge: Joint Undertakings

Votes on 2023 discharge

This news item presents highlights from the debate and vote on the European Parliament’s recommendations for the upcoming European Water Resilience Strategy, along with a statement by Rapporteur Thomas Bajada (S&D, MT). The Parliament adopted its recommendations—expected to guide the European Commission's strategy due before summer 2025—with 470 votes in favour, 81 against, and 92 abstentions. In their report, MEPs call for a bold and comprehensive approach to water management across the EU, aiming to address growing water-related challenges. Key proposals include setting water efficiency targets, enhancing climate adaptation efforts, ensuring sufficient funding for vital water resilience measures, and promoting digitalisation and innovation in the sector.

European Water Resilience Strategy: extracts from the debate, from the vote and statement by Thomas BAJADA (S&D, MT), Rapporteur

Votes on requests for urgent procedure (Rule 170): CO2 emission performance standards for new passenger cars and new light commercial vehicles for 2025 to 2027 / The protection status of the wolf (Canis lupus) / Amendments to the Capital Requirements Regulation as regards securities financing transactions under the net stable funding ratio / Pascale Piera (JURI A10-0077/2025) - Request for waiver of the immunity of Petr Bystron / Pascale Piera (JURI A10-0078/2025) - Request for waiver of the immunity of Petras Gražulis / Dainius Žalimas (JURI A10-0081/2025) - Request for waiver of the immunity of Grzegorz Braun

MEPs vote on the following topics : Estimates of revenue and expenditure for the financial year 2026 ; Energy-intensive industries ; Targeted attacks against Christians in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – defending religious freedom and security

MEPs vote on the following topics : Guidelines for the 2026 budget (A10-0042/2025) Andrzej HALICKI.

Voting session - part 1

MEPs vote on the following topics: the Agreement on a Norwegian Financial Mechanism for the period May 2021 - April 2028 ; Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau ; Cooperation between the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust) and the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina competent for judicial cooperation in criminal matters ; Strengthening the security of identity cards of Union citizens and of residence documents issued to Union citizens and their family members exercising their right of free movement

Voting session - part 2

MEPs vote on the following topics: Implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2024 ; Implementation of the common security and defence policy – annual report 2024 ; Human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter

Voting session - part 3

MEPs vote on the following topics: JURI Amending Directives (EU) 2022/2464 and (EU) 2024/1760 as regards the dates from which Member States are to apply certain corporate sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements; (A10-0029/2025) SMISZEK JURI Request for waiver of the immunity of Jana Nagyová; (A10-0030/2025) TARCZYNSKI JURI Request for waiver of the immunity of Petr Bystron; (A10-0031/2025) FURORE JURI Request for waiver of the immunity of Maciej Wasik; (A10-0032/2025) FURORE JURI Request for waiver of the immunity of Mariusz Kaminski; (A10-0039/2025) ZDECHOVSKÝ CONT Partial renewal of a member of the Court of Auditors - Lucian Roma.canu; (A10-0018/2025) TSIODRAS ENVI; (A10-0019/2025) TSIODRAS ENVI; (A10-0020/2025) TSIODRAS ENVI; (A10-0038/2025) IMART INTA Macro-financial assistance to Jordan; (A10-0037/2025) IMART INTA Macro-financial assistance to Egypt; and (A10-0034/2025) LANGE INTA Customs duties on imports of certain products originating in the USA.

MEPs vote on : MRs - Democracy and human rights in Thailand, notably the lese-majesty law and the deportation of Uyghur refugees MRs - Severe political, humanitarian and human rights crisis in Sudan, in particular the sexual violence and child rape MRs - Unlawful detention and sham trials of Armenian hostages, including high-ranking political representatives from Nagorno-Karabakh, by Azerbaijan MRs - Social and employment aspects of restructuring processes: the need to protect jobs and workers’ rights

MEPs vote on Parliament’s calendar of part-sessions - 2026; ZOVKO INTA EU-Norway Agreement: modification of concessions on all the tariff-rate quotas included in EU Schedule CLXXV as a consequence of the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union; (A10-0013/2025) MINCHEV LIBE Agreement between Canada and the European Union on the transfer and processing of Passenger Name Record (PNR) data; (A10-0022/2025) NAVARRETE ROJAS ECON; (A10-0023/2025) ABADÍA JOVER EMPL; MRs - Continuing the unwavering EU support for Ukraine, after three years of Russia’s war of aggression (Debate: 11/02/2025); MRs - White paper on the future of European defence; MRs - The need for EU support towards a just transition and reconstruction in Syria

MEPs vote on several reports: Mureşan, Mikser (A10-0006/2025) - Establishing the Reform and Growth Facility for the Republic of Moldova; Žalimas (A10-0015/2025) - Report on the request for the waiver of the immunity of Adam Bielan; Aurore Lalucq (ECON A10-0024/2025) - Appointment of a member of the Single Resolution Board; Aurore Lalucq (ECON A10-0025/2025) - Appointment of a member of the Single Resolution Board; Aurore Lalucq (ECON A10-0026/2025) - Appointment of the Vice-Chair of the Single Resolution Board; Ilhan Kyuchyuk (JURI A10-0016/2025) - Verification of credentials; Maij (A10-0014/2025) - The European Social Fund Plus post-2027; and Christian Ehler (ITRE A10-0021/2025) - Assessment of the implementation of Horizon Europe in view of its interim evaluation and recommendations for the 10th Research Framework Programme.

Votes on motions for resolution - Recent dismissals and arrests of mayors in Türkiye - Repression by the Ortega-Murillo regime in Nicaragua, targeting human rights defenders, political opponents and religious communities in particular - Continuing detention and risk of the death penalty for individuals in Nigeria charged with blasphemy, notably the case of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu - Further deterioration of the political situation in Georgia (debate: 21/01/2025) - Escalation of violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Voting Session

Ľudovít Ódor (ECON A10-0001/2025) - VAT: rules for the digital age (vote: 22/11/2023) - Aurore Lalucq (ECON A10-0002/2025) - Administrative cooperation in the field of taxation Motion for resolution - Objection pursuant to Rule 115(2) and (3): Genetically modified maize DP910521 - Motion for resolution - Objection pursuant to Rule 115(2) and (3): Genetically modified maize MON 95275

Tomas Tobé (TRAN A10-0005/2025) - Conclusion of an agreement between the European Union and the government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh on certain aspects of air services - Paulo Do Nascimento Cabral (PECH A10-0004/2025) - Conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Protocol (2024-2029) implementing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cabo Verde - Borys Budka (ITRE A10-/) - Renewal of the Agreement on cooperation in science and technology between the European Community and Ukraine

Motion for resolution - Case of Jean-Jacques Wondo in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Motion for resolution - Systematic repression of human rights in Iran, notably the cases of Pakhshan Azizi and Wrisha Moradi, and the taking of EU citizens as hostages Motion for resolution - Case of Boualem Sansal in Algeria Motions for resolution - Russia’s disinformation and historical falsification to justify its war of aggression against Ukraine (Debate: 17/12/2024) Motions for resolution - Situation in Venezuela following the usurpation of the presidency on 10 January 2025

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