Lawmakers elected to the European Parliament will be under pressure from next month to get more involved in debates.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, who has been pushing for an overhaul of the European Union's plenary sessions for years, says the planned changes will make debates more dynamic and the Parliament chambers in Strasbourg, France less of an empty backdrop for lawmakers' social media posts.
One lawmaker, known as an MEP, told the Euronews website on condition of anonymity: "It is the most expensive backdrop for social media clips in the world."
He said MEPs have got into the habit of turning up for debates at their designated speaking time, talking for a minute, and posting their efforts on social media — with the rehearsed speeches, lack of debate, and empty seats undermining the European Parliament's claim to be the home of Europe's democracy.
Among the chambers in Strasbourg, the massive plenary room is where 720 MEPs gather 12 times a year to debate and vote on EU laws.
