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The recent European Parliament elections resulted in gains for far-right and rightwing parties across Europe. / European Parliament
Far-right gains in Europe pose challenge for EU enlargement
Clare Nuttall in Glasgow
The recent European Parliament elections resulted in gains for far-right and rightwing parties across Europe, sparking concerns about the future of EU enlargement. While centrist groups retain a majority in the new European Parliament, the growing influence of populist, nationalist and Eurosceptic parties could complicate efforts to integrate new member states in the bloc, analysts have warned.
The elections followed a reinvigoration of the enlargement process sparked
by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which prompted EU leaders to renewed
efforts to integrate the countries on
the periphery of the 27-member bloc. Previously the enlargement process had stagnated, with Croatia being the last country to join more than a decade ago.
In the June European Parliament elections, far-right parties came first in five countries and second or third in
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another five, primarily at the expense of liberal and green parties.
In France, the far-right's victory led President Emmanuel Macron to call for snap elections. Similarly, in Germany, the governing coalition trailed behind conservatives and the far-right, further weakening Chancellor Olaf Scholz. These shifts in the EU's two largest countries are likely to impact the union's functioning significantly. There was also a strong showing for rightwing parties in countries such as Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania, even though centrist parties prevailed.
At European level, the European People's Party (EPP), Socialists and Democrats (S&D) and Renew Europe have maintained their dominance in the parliament.
Despite this, the long-term trend indicates increasing support for
rightwing and far-right parties. At the same time, parties closer to the centre have helped to normalise far-right parties by adopting their ideas and rhetoric, as pointed out by London-based think-tank Chatham House on June 11.
At national level, the far right is already part of governing coalitions in Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Italy and Croatia, while Austria's far right leads in polls ahead of national elections. This trend is evident in Portugal and Slovakia as well, where far-right parties have gained significant support. The outcome of France’s snap general election remains to be seen, but the European Parliament vote shows a weakened position for Macron’s
Renew coalition.
These developments at national level in turn will have an impact
on policy-making at EU level, says Chatham House: “This trend affects