Árpád Duka-Zólyomi

On this sub-page, you can find my motions for resolution, questions addressed to the Commission, or the Council and my speeches.

Debate

A parliamentary report put to the vote in plenary is generally the subject of a debate in which the Commission, the representatives of the political groups and individual MEPs express their views. Speaking time per person, often very short, depends on the number of Members who have asked for the floor.

Unlike the voting, which is sometimes held at a very rapid pace, the debates can last for several hours, depending on the number of Members who wish to speak. They usually speak in their own language, and what they say is interpreted simultaneously by the interpreters into the other official EU languages.

Speaking time in the Chamber is allocated according to the following criteria: a first fraction of speaking time is divided equally amongst all the political groups, then a further fraction is divided among the groups in proportion to the total number of their members. MEPs who wish to speak are entered on the list of speakers in an order based on the numerical size of their group. However, a priority speaking slot is given to the rapporteurs of the committees responsible and to draftsmen of other committees asked for an opinion.

Questions

The sitting also includes a period set aside for Question Time with the Council and/or the Commission. In general, Question Time with the Commission is held on Tuesday, and with the Council on Wednesday. The questions must be submitted in advance, in writing, to the President of Parliament, who decides whether they are admissible.

Motions for resolution

The motions for resolutions and reports tabled by Members and by the parliamentary committees are put to the vote in plenary, with or without a debate. After the vote, the final texts as adopted are published and forwarded to the authorities concerned.