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Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Christos Stylianides says the five principles for relations with Russia agreed by EU states in 2016 are still the "most balanced" way to manage the relationship.

These include insisting on the "full implementation" of the Minsk agreements before lifting economic sanctions and pursuing closer relations with ex-Soviet republics.

He insists however that the EU's main vehicle for relations with such countries - the Eastern Partnership - is not about creating "spheres of influence".

He also adds that the EU expressed "unqualified solidarity" with the UK after the Salisbury attacks.

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That’s the debate on Syria finished. MEPs now move to their next debate, on “the situation in Russia”.

It comes after the EU expelled its ambassador to Moscow after agreeing with the UK that it is "highly likely" Russia was responsible for the nerve agent attack in Salisbury.

Moscow denies responsibility for the attack on ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter and has accused the EU of following an “anti-Russian campaign”.

Yulia, 33, left hospital earlier this month. Her 66-year-old father is said to be recovering more slowly but is expected to eventually be discharged.

More than 20 countries have expelled Russian envoys in solidarity with the UK.

European Parliament
Strasbourg

French Liberal MEP Patricia Lalonde says preventing the use of chemical weapons is a "worthy cause" but there is a need to first know "who did what".

This will require an independent investigation of the attack site, she says.

Portuguese Socialist Ana Gomes urges Federica Mogherini to push for an EU plan to create no-fly zones and channels for humanitarian aid in the country.

European Parliament
Strasbourg

Left-wing German MEP and GUE group leader Gabriele Zimmer says the voting policy - and Russia's veto - within the UN Security Council is "unsustainable".

However she says that "attacking without proper evidence" has "proved counter-productive".

She calls for a "joint investigation" to find out what happened in Douma.

UKIP leader Gerard Batten says there is "no proof" that President Assad was behind the attack.

Rather than "virtue signalling" with support for the strikes, MEPs should be asking "who benefits from this attack", he says.

European Parliament
Strasbourg

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Romanian social democrat Victor Bostinaru criticises the "cynicism" of some of his colleagues at the opening of the plenary yesterday for "denying the obvious" over what is happening in Syria.

The EU does not have to choose between fighting terrorism and protecting civilians, he says.

Conservative MEP Charles Tannock say the joint air strikes were conducted with the sole aim of deterring "tyrants across the globe" from using chemical weapons in the future.

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Strasbourg

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Federica Mogherini says the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria is "a pattern we have seen developing".

Their use, if proven, is "unacceptable" for the entire international community, and particularly for the European Union, she says.

"Those responsible must be held accountable," she adds.

The EU is working to ensure international weapons inspectors have access to the Douma bombing site, she tells MEPs.

She calls for a "shift" to peace-making and "meaningful negotiations", noting that there will be "no military solution" to the war in the country.

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That’s the debate on efforts to create a UN migration compact finished. EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini will stay for a debate on Syria.

It comes after France and the UK joined the US in bombing three Syrian sites last weekend in response to a suspected chemical attack on the town of Douma.

After the attack Ms Mogherini said she is “supportive of all efforts aimed at the prevention of the use of chemical weapons”.

Syria denies any chemical use and says that attack was fabricated by rebels.

The wave of strikes represents the most significant attack against President Bashar al-Assad's government by Western powers in seven years of Syria's civil war.

France's leader warns of a "civil war" of ideas after recent electoral gains for populists.

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MEPs have now been joined by Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos to debate the state of negotiations in developing a United Nations compact for refugees.

The document will aim to describe an international response to mass migration, including easing pressures on countries with large refugee populations.

It will also aim to promote ways for refugees to be able to voluntarily return to their home countries.

Negotiations have so far produced a draft compact last month. A final version is due to be finalised later this year.

That’s today’s voting session finished. MEPs will now have the chance to make short speeches to explain how they voted.

After this they will break for lunch – before returning at 14.00 BST for a debate on efforts to create a “global compact” for refugees at the United Nations.

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MEPs also approve proposals to tighten up the rules on the registration and funding of European political parties and foundations.

Since 2014, these bodies have been able to qualify as European legal entities, thereby allowing them greater access to EU funding.

Under the new rules, only parties – and not individuals – will be able to sponsor the creation of new European parties, and sponsoring several will be banned.

EU funding for parties will also become more proportional to their level of support at European elections.

Image source, Reuters

MEPs approve two new laws designed to help the EU meet its targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

They are meant to apply from 2020, once they have been given the final sign-off by national ministers.

The first law will set new binding emission targets for member states for sectors that aren’t included in the EU’s recently revised carbon trading scheme, which applies to power stations.

These include areas such as transport, construction and farming, which are supposed to reduce emissions by a third before 2030, compared to levels in 2005.

The second law requires EU countries to balance emissions and removals from land use over two five-year periods between 2021 and 2030.

MEPs ratify an agreement between the EU and Norway which will see both sides liberalise their trade in agriculture and fish.

European Economic Area (EEA) member Norway has free trade in goods with the EU, apart from goods in the farming and fishing sectors. Trade in these areas is reviewed every two years.

In the latest update, both sides have granted tariff-free access on a number of products, including live horses, certain kinds of fruit, and berries and nuts.

Norway has increased its tariff-free import quotas for EU products such as beef, cheese, lettuce and sausages.

In return the EU has increased quotas for products like chicken, whey and crisps.

That’s the debate with French President Emmanuel Macron finished. MEPs are now taking their seats for today’s voting session.

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Making a final intervention, Emmanuel Macron says harmonising the French asylum system with others will allow for greater European co-operation on the issue.

"We can draw inspiration fro what our German neighbours have done," he says.

He says he is "in favour" of an EU-wide asylum system, with the same rules applied across the different member states.

He adds that there should be an agency to finance local authorities prepared to take refugees.

On Brexit, he calls for the "most integrated" relationship with the UK but says that there can be "no cherry-picking in the single market".

European Parliament
Strasbourg

Romanian centre-right MEP Adina-Ioana Valean welcomes Mr Macron's pledge for increased French contributions to the EU budget after 2020.

Conservative MEP Geoffrey van Orden calls on the French President to "more strongly signal" France's desire for a strong relationship with the UK after Brexit.

He should "recognise" that this will involve "novel arrangements", he adds.

Image source, EBS

European Parliament
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Replying to the interventions from group leaders, Emmanuel Macron hits back at the Eurosceptic French MEPs, telling them they should remember they have been elected by French voters.

However he says the process for claiming asylum in France at the moment is "not up to the task", and that waiting times should be reduced.

On the Balkans, he says the Western Balkans countries must be given EU membership prospects to prevent the "geopolitical risk" of them turning towards Turkey or Russia.

He adds that he will only be able to support more EU members when "our own Europe right now" has first been reformed.

He again calls for the idea of pan-EU MEPs in the European Parliament, suggesting that the lead candidates on that list could form a shortlist for European Commission president.

He defends French participation in the air strikes in Syria, telling MEPs that the action taken for "for the honour of the international community".

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There are now a series of interventions from opposition French MEPs.

Patrick Le Hyaric, from the left-wing Front de Gauche, criticises French participation in the Syrian air strikes and accuses Mr Macron of "flouting international law".

Ex-Front National MEP Florian Philippot, who now sits in the Eurosceptic EFDD group, says Mr Macron's agenda entails the "destruction of public services".

He also says he is glad the French President made his speech today in French, rather than "the language of Americans".

Front National MEP Nicolas Bay, who co-leads the anti-EU ENF group, says Mr Macron thinks of himself as modern, but is "running counter to the future".

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Strasbourg

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Belgian MEP Philippe Lamberts, the co-leader of the Green/EFA group, gives his backing for an EU-wide scheme for protecting bank deposits.

The idea is part of the legislative package known as the "banking union" - it has been supported by Mr Macron, but has faced stern opposition in Germany.

However he criticises French arms sales policies and the dismantlement of migrant camps.

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Strasbourg

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Guy Verhofstadt, who leads the Liberal ALDE group, repeats his support for the French, UK and US air strikes in Syria over the weekend.

Any regime prepared to use chemical weapons on its own people is an "illegitimate regime".

He also calls for the EU to "do something" about the "authoritarian drifts" in Hungary and Poland.

In addition, he calls for further strengthening of the banking system, warning that Europe "is not ready for another financial crisis".