MEP — Member of the European Parliament

An elected representative serving in the European Parliament. The EP has 720 allocated seats. As of July 2026, 719 MEPs are currently serving; MEPScore tracks all 743 MEPs who have held a seat during Term 10 (2024–2029), including those who have since been replaced.

EP — European Parliament

The directly elected legislative body of the European Union, sharing legislative and budgetary powers with the Council of the EU.

Plenary

The full sitting of the European Parliament where all MEPs gather to debate and vote on legislation, resolutions, and reports. Plenary sessions are held mainly in Strasbourg and occasionally in Brussels.

Vote

A formal decision taken by MEPs in plenary or committee on a legislative text, amendment, or resolution. May be taken by show of hands, electronic vote, or roll call.

Roll-call vote

A recorded vote in which each MEP’s individual position (For, Against, Abstain) is published. Roll-call votes are the basis of attendance and voting-record analysis.

Amendment

A proposed change to a draft legislative text, report, or resolution. Amendments are tabled by individual MEPs, political groups, or committees and are voted on before the final text.

Report

A document drafted by a parliamentary committee that presents the Parliament’s position on a legislative proposal or own-initiative topic. Reports are debated and voted in plenary.

Rapporteur

The MEP appointed by a committee to lead work on a specific report. The rapporteur drafts the report, negotiates with other groups and institutions, and presents the file in plenary.

Shadow rapporteur

An MEP appointed by a political group other than the rapporteur’s group to follow the file, propose compromises, and represent the group’s position during negotiations.

Opinion

A formal contribution from one committee to another committee responsible for a report, allowing additional expertise to feed into the lead committee’s text.

Question (written / oral)

A formal question put by an MEP to the European Commission, Council, or other EU institution. Written questions receive a written reply; oral questions are answered in plenary.

Motion for a resolution

A proposed text expressing the Parliament’s position on a topical issue. Motions are debated and voted in plenary and, when adopted, become Parliament resolutions.

Explanation of vote

A short written or oral statement in which an MEP explains the reasons behind their vote on a specific file.

Group (political group)

A transnational alliance of MEPs from different national parties who share political affinities. Groups receive speaking time and committee seats in proportion to their size.

Delegation

A group of MEPs responsible for maintaining relations with a non-EU country, region, or international assembly.

Committee

A specialised body of MEPs that prepares the Parliament’s work in a specific policy area (e.g. Environment, Industry, Civil Liberties). Most legislative work happens at committee stage.

Vote participation

The share of roll-call votes in which the Member cast a recorded vote (For, Against or Abstain), using only votes within the Member's recorded mandate period.

Plenary attendance

The number of plenary sitting days on which the Member appears in the Parliament's attendance record, compared with the sitting days falling within the Member's mandate period.

Voting alignment

A measure of how often an MEP votes in line with their political group, country delegation, or another reference group on roll-call votes.