Test in Strasbourg: EU Parliament tests new rule against empty chairs in the plenary session

The European Parliament is testing a new debate rule against empty rows of seats. To ensure that more MPs take part in important discussions in the plenary chamber, complete lists of speeches have not been published on major online platforms before a debate today. This means that most speakers only found out when they would be speaking to their colleagues shortly before their appearance.

During debates in the EU Parliament, many seats often remain empty. For example, on Monday evening, at a debate on the ceasefire in the Gaza war, the hall was practically empty, as a reporter from the German Press Agency who was present observed.

Discussions should be more exciting

According to a spokeswoman for the EU Parliament, the parliamentary group leaders will discuss it and decide whether the test can be seen as a success. For example, attention is paid to whether the parliamentary groups are satisfied and whether participation in the debate has increased. Official statistics on average participation in debates in the EU Parliament are not available.

“The improvement today was small and certainly just a first step,” said Volt MP Damian Boeselager to the dpa after the debate. He pushed the initiative forward together with other MPs. The discussions in parliament should be much more exciting and reach many more people.

His FDP counterpart Moritz Körner also supports the project. He also advocated for opportunities for interim questions “so that the debates become even more lively and therefore more interesting.” After the debate, the chairman of the EPP group, Manfred Weber (CSU), said that the plenary hall was “pretty full” during the debate under the new rules.