Much of the debate in Strasbourg this week centres on Turkey's application to join the EU and the envisaged start of negotiations on 3rd October, which Parliament gives a somewhat lukewarm approval.

My own views can be seen in the new, super-accessible record of debate on Parliament's website (eat your heart out, Hansard!):

"I fully support the opening of accession negotiations with Turkey this autumn. They will no doubt be long and difficult, but if agreement can be reached and if Turkey meets all the necessary conditions regarding the functioning of democracy and respect for human rights including the rights of minorities then there is no reason of principle why it should not be entitled to join the European Union.

"I reject the arguments of those who object to Turkey’s membership on the ground that Turkey is not 'European'. That argument was settled years ago when we accepted Turkey’s membership of the Council of Europe. Opponents of Turkey’s membership try to equate 'European' with 'Christian'. Yet Islam has played a part in Europe’s history and culture for centuries. In any case, the motto of the European Union is 'unity with diversity'. We are not trying to harmonise cultures but to find ways of working together whilst keeping our various identities. By reaching out to Turkey we underline that the EU is not based on an exclusive European identity, but of an inclusive one."