EU Parliament Debates

The European Parliament is back in session in Strasbourg, but many MEPs are expected to be absent during debates. Some MEPs have suggested that the debates are too scripted and not taken seriously by the commission or the MEPs themselves.

Proposal for Change

Bas Eickhout, a Dutch Green MEP, has proposed that each political group designate a single representative to engage in debates with the European Commission on key policy issues. This would be followed by one-minute speeches from other MEPs if they choose to make them. Eickhout stated that the current setup is 'a bit of a fake setting' and that the commission is not taking the debates seriously.

Cost and Attendance

The four-day plenary session in Strasbourg is estimated to cost the public up to €10m. There are 12 sessions throughout the year. Attendance at the debates is often poor, with many MEPs absent. A recent debate on 'EU Governance under Pressure – Institutional Responses to Global Challenges' was attended by few MEPs, with EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič reading a lacklustre speech to a near-empty chamber.

Key points

• Many MEPs are often absent during plenary debates in the European Parliament.
• Bas Eickhout has proposed designating a single representative per group to engage in debates with the European Commission.
• The current setup is seen as 'a bit of a fake setting' by Eickhout.
• The four-day plenary session in Strasbourg is estimated to cost up to €10m.
• There are 12 plenary sessions throughout the year.
• A ceremony honouring 20 people with the European Order of Merit had a larger audience than a recent debate.