Guy Verhofstadt, leader of the liberal group (ALDE) in the European Parliament, condemned the Russian letter earlier.

BBC: Irish parliament to drop Magnitsky List plan after warning

Estonian MEP Siiri Oviir, representing the Liberal group, ALDE, welcomed the updating of the social security legislation.

BBC: MEPs welcome new social security rules

Guy Verhofstadt, leader of the liberal group ALDE, said "the problem is not Europe - the problem is not enough Europe!"

BBC: Closer union 'urgent' - EU Commission chief Barroso

It was opposed by the liberals (ALDE), left-wingers and the Greens.

BBC: Euro MP allowances boosted again

The centre-left Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in Europe (PASDE) is the second largest bloc with 183 MEPs, followed by the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) with 84.

BBC: Euro parliament elects new leader

Mr Watson has been a Lib Dem MEP since 1994 and has been head of the ALDE group, one of the biggest party groupings in the Parliament, for the past seven and half years.

BBC: Brian Wheeler