Neena Gill (S&D). – Mr President, the forthcoming EU Council risks being a complete non-event if ambitions are not raised. The EU needs to look seriously at reforms and at the implications of a no-deal Brexit: Capital Markets Union (CMU) for example, and the digital agenda could be another, given the strong presence of tech startups in the UK.

The EU and the UK also need to maintain close cooperation on foreign and defence issues. This is vital in files where the UK has been leading, such as Syria, where, over the past two weeks we have witnessed the highest death toll in 2017. Heavy retaliatory strikes by the Assad regime and Russia in the north, even targeting hospitals, have taken away all credibility from the Astana Process. A real political transition has to be a priority in Geneva. The EU has to take political leadership to balance Russian and Iran, but also the USA. I urge the Tory government to be earnest about continued collaboration with the EU on defence, and not to use security as a bargaining chip.

On migration, subsequent Commission plans have failed due to the lack of political will of Member States. I urge the Council to ditch the dithering and engage in substantial reform of the Common European Asylum System.