European Parliament Launches Initiative to Boost Lawmaker Attendance at Debates

[Social Media]

 

BRUSSELS ― The European Parliament, often marked by nearly empty chambers during debates, is launching an experiment aimed at addressing the issue of absentee lawmakers. The initiative, set to begin next week, could reshape the culture of parliamentary attendance.  

 

An internal email obtained by POLITICO revealed that two debates scheduled for next week’s plenary session in Strasbourg will be conducted without publishing their timetables. This means Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) will need to remain present throughout the entire debate if they wish to participate. Damian Boeselager, an MEP from the center-left Volt group, remarked, “Step by step, we need cultural changes to increase attendance and make debates more fun.”  

 

This pilot initiative was agreed upon by Parliament President Roberta Metsola and political group leaders during a closed-door meeting on Wednesday. The plan aligns with efforts led by a coalition of 60 younger MEPs seeking to modernize the institution. Metsola’s office emphasized the importance of this trial, stating, “For the president, it is about making sure that MEPs are present in the hemicycle during the debates. If it goes well, we will roll-out this approach increasingly.”  

 

The first debate under this new system will take place on Tuesday, addressing enforcement of the Digital Services Act and its implications for foreign interference, particularly recent alleged meddling by Elon Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter), in European politics and elections. On Wednesday, the trial will continue with a discussion on December’s European Council summit, which gathers the EU’s 27 leaders.  

 

Despite the significance of these topics, even high-profile debates have historically suffered from low attendance, with many MEPs appearing only briefly to deliver their speeches and leaving immediately afterward. The trial seeks to reverse this trend by implementing stricter participation requirements.  

 

Under the new rules, the president or vice president overseeing the session will have the discretion to decide speaking order following the initial round of statements by group leaders. The email outlined that “members who request and are allocated speaking time will need to attend the whole debate in which they want to speak and check on the screens if they are the next to be called.”  

 

The initiative stems from a December proposal by the younger MEP group, which included ten suggestions to enhance debate attendance, engagement, and relevance. Their recommendations also called for mandatory attendance quotas, spontaneous reactions to speeches, and the removal of seating restrictions that currently reserve front rows for group leaders.  

 

The group is determined to create momentum for these changes. Boeselager, who coordinates the coalition, shared their plans to “hijack” next week’s debate. By attending as a unified bloc and utilizing the Blue Cards system, they intend to engage speakers in impromptu Q&A sessions, injecting energy and interaction into the discussions.  

 

“Let’s establish a culture of testing improvements over the upcoming sessions,” their December letter urged. If successful, this trial could mark the beginning of a new era for the European Parliament, where debates are not only better attended but more dynamic and meaningful.  

 

Based on a report by Politico 2024-01-18

 

 

[biggles45]

Don't pay them if they don't attend, that will increase attendance! 

[klauskunkel]

What in the stupidity is this all about?

If you don't show up for work, you lose your job. End of 

[roquefort]

1 hour ago, biggles45 said:

Don't pay them if they don't attend, that will increase attendance! 

These clowns have been filmed clocking in at the Parliament office for 5 minutes on a Friday morning to collect their weekly allowances, then b*****ing off home for a long weekend. The European Parliament is about equivalent to the plenum of the CCP - a powerless talking shop set up to rubber stamp Queen Ursula's proclamations. And handsomely paid for the privilege, not to mention the numerous scandals concerning their expenses over the years,

 

The only time it served any purpose was when Nigel Farage was an MEP and regularly let off steam at the bunch of useless Eurocrats running the show.

[JonnyF]

Surely making them attend work is an infringement of their human rights? 😀

 

Could the ECHR step in?

[josephbloggs]

15 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Surely making them attend work is an infringement of their human rights? 😀

 

Could the ECHR step in?

Shame your hero Farage couldn't be bothered and was a shameful representation of our country.

Why do you hold everyone else to higher standards Jonny? Your hypocrisy is incredible.

https://bylinetimes.com/2019/04/11/the-worst-in-the-european-parliament-how-truant-brexit-meps-make-a-mockery-of-britain/

[Will B Good]

9 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

Shame your hero Farage couldn't be bothered and was a shameful representation of our country.

Why do you hold everyone else to higher standards Jonny? Your hypocrisy is incredible.

https://bylinetimes.com/2019/04/11/the-worst-in-the-european-parliament-how-truant-brexit-meps-make-a-mockery-of-britain/

 

Yep....milked the system for years then took a big fat pension to boot......disgusting individual.

[Bkk Brian]

19 hours ago, Social Media said:

nearly empty chambers during debates, is launching an experiment aimed at addressing the issue of absentee lawmakers

So the norm for everyone is to just not turn up. Their solution, an experiment 

 

 

[DonniePeverley]

It's far too bloated a parliament. Gravy train if you can get on it. 

 

Total waste of money