The European Parliament narrowly backed the Spanish government's plan for a peace process in the Basque region today, despite stiff opposition from right-wing political parties.
In a vote that mirrored the differences between Spain's political parties over whether Madrid should negotiate with armed separatist group ETA, 321 members of the European Parliament backed a motion supporting the peace process.
Voting against were 311 and 24 lawmakers abstained.
ETA declared a permanent ceasefire in March after a four-decade campaign of killings as it sought to obtain independence for the Basque country.
Spain's Socialist government has said it will hold talks with ETA, a move bitterly opposed by the right-wing Popular Party opposition which says ETA has not done enough to merit negotiations.
A separate motion, proposed by right-wing lawmakers and which said conditions for talks with ETA were not yet in place, was rejected by the European Parliament earlier today.
The votes have no legal bearing on the peace process.
The debate in Strasbourg took place a day after French police said they were investigating whether ETA stole 350 guns from an arms factory in southern France.
European Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini, speaking during today's debate, said the French news was "a cause for concern" but Brussels believed Spain would take the right path to achieving peace in the Basque country.