Following today's adoption, by the European Parliament, of a resolution on the situation in Syria, S&D Group president Gianni Pittella said:

"The attacks in Syria against civilians, humanitarian workers and humanitarian aid are crimes against humanity. On the Syrian battleground, the international law is being deliberately violated.

"We demand that all the parties involved in the conflict call an immediate cease fire, and urge them to allow access to humanitarian aid.

"These shameful massacres are taking place on the doorstep of Europe. We call on the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, Federica Mogherini, and the UN to put in place all the instruments necessary to put an end to the war and to open the way for a diplomatic political peaceful solution."

S&D MEP and vice-president for foreign affairs Victor Boştinaru stated:

"The situation in Aleppo is critical. Despite the efforts of the international community to re-establish the cessation of hostilities and allow access to humanitarian aid, Assad and the Russian forces are continuing and intensifying the indiscriminate fire-bombing.

"The brutal character of the war in Syria, especially in Aleppo, and the use of the most ruthless practices – including the use of chemical weapons, incendiary and bunker bombs – cannot continue to be ignored! Silence can be seen as abetting! They are deliberately targeting civilians, humanitarian workers and hospitals. Children in Aleppo have made up a large proportion of the casualties from the air strikes.

"We strongly condemn these actions, which are an unacceptable breach of international humanitarian law and could be classed as war crimes and crimes against humanity.  We call for an independent investigation to be launched as soon as possible by the United Nations to clarify the circumstances and identify the perpetrators of these despicable crimes.

"We welcome the EU emergency humanitarian initiative for Aleppo and reiterate the call on all parties in the conflict to support and facilitate this initiative, including allowing the delivery of humanitarian aid and the evacuation of patients to adequate medical facilities. We urge the EU's High Representative for foreign affairs and security policy, Federica Mogherini, the international community and the United Nations to use all the diplomatic tools and pressure necessary to put an end to the Russian-backed Syrian regime attacks on Aleppo. We call on all parties to come back to the table of negotiations in order to re-establish a ceasefire."