This special issue of the Journal of Legislative Studies analyses the different dimensions of the European Parliament’s work in the 2019–2024 session, with each article focusing on one of the many challenges that MEPs have faced and are still facing as a result of political volatility. These include the impact of the increase in profile of Eurosceptic Members on both the coalition building and committee work that have been a traditional strength of the legislature, the activities of parliamentarians in relation to key policy areas such as public health and immigration, as well as the wider and broadly respected role of the EP in democracy promotion. Having faced these challenges for a number of years, it is even possible to argue that the 2020s will see a new ‘era of the Parliament’, following on from previous periods when either the Commission or the Council each in turn dominated EU affairs.