218 MPs reject bill while 215 vote for draft law that would have decriminalised act of facilitating abortions

Firefighters tell French media that fire in spire has been contained after mayor of city says ‘all public resources are mobilised’

This live blog is now closed

This blog has now closed but you can read our full report on the French election results here

Polling has shown that the most likely scenario on Sunday is that National Rally will not win an absolute majority of seats

Gabriel Attal said candidate Prisca Thevenot and members of her campaign team were attacked by four individuals

According to Le Monde’s latest count this morning, 221 candidates have withdrawn from races since Sunday’s first round of elections

Around 130 are members of left-wing New Popular Front with more than 80 from Macron camp

Italian PM Giorgia Meloni abstains on von der Leyen and votes against Kallas and Costa

Outgoing Dutch PM will take over from Jens Stoltenberg as secretary-general in October

German chancellor and LSE professor Lea Ypi speak on ‘freedom, peace and progress’ at event chaired by Guardian’s editor-in-chief, Katharine Viner

Country is among seven that could face fines as it heads for high-stakes vote this month

European Council president says evening was ‘good occasion to exchange views’ with further talks to come

French president says calling snap election was the only path forward after the far right’s success in the EU elections

Marine Le Pen congratulates ‘brave choice’ from Les Républicains’ Eric Ciotti amid manoeuvring ahead of snap general election

European Conservatives and Reformists party includes members such as Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy and Poland’s Law and Justice

European commission president says ‘there remains a majority in the centre for a strong Europe’ as far right makes huge gains across continent; Emmanuel Macron makes shock election move

Most of the European Union’s 27 member countries, including powerhouses France and Germany, go to the polls on Sunday, the final day

Party of far-right populist predicted to take 11 seats against six for challenger who is building a centrist movement

Voting in the EU elections begins Thursday and ends on Sunday with turnout slightly up as polls open in the Netherlands