Attendance, Engagement, and Relevance: A Push for Change in Parliamentary Debates
In an upcoming trial, the president or vice president presiding over parliamentary sessions will have the authority to decide, on the spot, who gets to speak after the first round of remarks delivered by group leaders, typically chairpersons.
As outlined in an internal email circulated on Thursday, this means that “members who request and are allocated speaking time will need to attend the entire debate they wish to participate in and monitor the screens to see if they are next to be called.”
The pilot initiative, agreed upon by Parliament President Roberta Metsola and the heads of political groups in a closed-door meeting, stems from a push by a group of 60 younger lawmakers seeking to revitalize the institution. | Janos Kummer/Getty Images
This new approach builds on a December proposal sent to Metsola by the younger lawmakers, which put forward a list of 10 ideas aimed at improving attendance, energy, and the overall relevance of parliamentary debates.
Among the suggested reforms are mandatory attendance quotas for political groups, incentives for lawmakers to engage in impromptu reactions to speeches, and a move to allow MEPs to sit in the front rows of the chamber—seating currently reserved for group leadership.
“Let’s create a culture of experimenting with improvements in the upcoming sessions,” the letter urged.
Adding an element of spontaneity to their efforts, the reformist group is also planning to “hijack” next week’s debate. Their strategy involves attending as a bloc and leveraging the Blue Cards system to initiate unscripted Q&A exchanges with speakers, said Damian Boeselager, one of the group’s coordinators.
The debate around improving attendance and engagement in the European Parliament is longstanding. Last year, a working group of MEPs and civil servants presented a list of recommendations aimed at encouraging political groups to prioritize presence during plenary sessions.
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