Scottish Labour MSP Neil Findlay will lead a debate on the Pitchford Inquiry and undercover policing in the chamber from 10:45.

We will be staying with the European Committee but if you would like to watch Mr Findlay's debate you can follow it live on Parliament TV, external.

SNP MSP Richard Lochhead asks about Scotland being in Europe with the rest of the UK not being in Europe.

He asks about the EEA and other possibilities.

Professor Andrew Scott says there are difficulties around this.

The academic says it would be quite difficult on a practical level to manage. 

Professor Scott says: "It would be a very complex situation, but I'm not saying it would be inconceivable."

Dr Kirsty Hughes raises the issue of a second referendum but says the discussion around this is very confused.

She says there are some asking if there should be second referendum on the withdrawal agreement or just have a second referendum.

This is "utterly confusing" Dr Hughes says. 

However she says she thinks Article 50 will be triggered before Christmas and there will be no second referendum.

Professor Sir David Edward says it would be possible to negotiate the withdrawal agreement but for the UK Parliament to not accept that.

Professor Sionaidh Douglas-Scott says the referendum is only an advisory one and parliament could choose to ignore it.

She says in the end the withdrawal from the EU will have to be agreed by the Westminster parliament.

SNP MEP Alyn Smith received a standing ovation from his European colleagues after he begged them not to "let Scotland down".

He was speaking in an emergency debate at the European Parliament in the wake of last week's EU referendum.

The UK voted by 52% to 48% to leave the union after 43 years of membership.

Mr Smith used his speech in Brussels to urge the EU to respect the will of Scotland after its electors voted by 62% to 38% to remain in the EU.

Professor Andrew Scott says political agreement must precede negotiations.

The academic says he agrees with the importance of relationships in Europe and the Scottish government has made fantastic strides in building these relationships".

Professor Scott says the standing ovation received by SNP MEP Alyn Smith was unprecedented.

On independence, Professor Sionaidh Douglas-Scott says a good legal case was made for Scotland's membership of the EU but again the political dimension is more difficult.

Professor Sir David Edward, the former European Court Judge, agrees with this and says the key to any negotiations is to create good will.

Sir David says it is also necessary in negotiations with the UK government to maintain good will but this might be difficult.  

Professor Sionaidh Douglas-Scott says it is difficult to envisage how part of a state could be in the EU, but one should distinguish legal and political issues here.

Professor Douglas-Scott says legally there are precedents but politically it is a different state of affairs.

The academic points to Greenland and the reunification of Germany.

Dr Kirsty Hughes says it is very hard to imagine how Scotland could be in the UK and in the EU.

Dr Kirsty Hughes says the Brexit vote has inflicted extraordinary damage on the UK, on Europe and even the wider world.

Dr Hughes says it is absolutely right to do what Scotland is doing at the moment.

She says the simplest scenario for Scotland would be to be an independent state and remain in the EU. 

Committee convener Joan McAlpine says it is now seven days since Scotland voted to remain in the EU and parliament has since then had an unopposed vote to welcome that vote and efforts to keep Scotland in the EU. 

Ms McAlpine asks what the best scenario is to protect Scotland's relationship with the EU. 

We now move to a panel of experts who will discuss the Brexit vote: 

The experts are: 

• Professor Sir David Edward, Chair of the Europa Institute, University of Edinburgh, and Former Judge of the European Court of Justice
• Professor Sionaidh Douglas-Scott, Anniversary Chair in Law, co-director, Centre for Law and Society in a Global Context, Queen Mary School of Law, University of London
• Dr Kirsty Hughes, Associate Fellow, Friends of Europe, Brussels; 
• Professor Andrew Scott, European Union Studies and Co-Director of Europa Institute, School of Law and Dean International for Europe, University of Edinburgh. 

Sir David Edward and Professor Andrew Scott have both been appointed to the Scottish government's Standing Council on Europe.  

Brian Taylor
BBC Scotland Political Editor

Image source, Reuters

Is Nicola Sturgeon's initiative entirely thwarted before it begins? By no means.

Yes, the Spanish statement is a challenge - and it is possible to argue that President Juncker may have to pay heed to a member state which intends to stay in the EU rather than a part of a member state which is on the verge of leaving.

But Ms Sturgeon's declared objective in these early talks was simply to highlight Scotland's case. To put Scotland's position on the table, to borrow a phrase she has used at home.

Read Brian's blog in full

Scottish Greens MSP Ross Greer asks if the Scottish government plans to meet with all the heads of member states.

The minister says it is better to have the meetings and report back than announce beforehand that the meetings are happening because some countries don't want that, but there will be meetings with ministers from various countries. 

Ms Hyslop says it is important to stay engaged and that is the importance of being a EU member.

"Scotland's time is now", she says. 

That concludes the cabinet secretary's evidence session.

SNP MSP Ash Denham asks about feedback from Scotland's business community since the Brexit vote.

The external affairs secretary says there has been positive feedback about the strong leadership of the first minister.

She says individual employers in the tourism industry are reassuring EU citizens who are their employees.

Tory MSP Rachael Hamilton asks if Scotland should be preparing for departure from the EU as well as fighting to remain.

Ms Hyslop says there is no plan from those who have led us to Brexit and she says the Scottish government is trying to maximise Scotland's position.

"I find it absolutely staggering that we are in this position."

Mr Scott asks if by the end of August it will be clearer what those options are.

Ms Hyslop says the government know independence may be the only way to achieve remaining in the EU but says the government is going in with an open mind.

The external affairs secretary says people are "saddened and angered by what is happened".

Tavish Scott asks if external legal advice is being sought, Ms Hyslop says that is appropriate.

She says the government wants to be open and transparent as possible but says the government does not have legal advice yet and that is a matter for the first minister. 

Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott asks what the Scottish government's options are.

Ms Hyslop says she would love to able to detail all the options but that is why the standing council of experts was set up.

She does say again independence is on the table.