New European Parliament in Session
The new European Parliament held its first plenary session in Strasbourg on 1 July. The first item on the agenda was the election of the President and Vice-Presidents. The candidate who obtains an absolute majority in a secret ballot is elected President. German MEP Martin Schulz was re-elected as President with 409 votes for a two and a half year term. The Parliament will now elect 14 Vice-Presidents on a single ballot. It also decides on the composition of each committee and sub-committee, which in turn elect their Chairs and Vice-Chairs. The first committee meeting will take place on 7 July in Brussels.