Eurosceptic parties are on course to win the European Parliament elections in nine member states, in what is a worrying development for the EU's leadership.
New polling suggests that anti-EU parties will come second or third in another nine countries.
Pollsters have predicted that the swing towards Eusosceptic paries, which is expected in the EU elections in June, could weaken EU support for Ukraine and net zero targets.
A report by the European Council on Foreign Relations think tank suggests that eurosceptic parties will be the most successful in Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and Slovakia.
Eurosceptic parties are on course to win the European Parliament elections in nine member states
PA
The right-wing parties are expected to come second or third in Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and Sweden.
The far-right Identity and Democracy group - which includes France’s National Rally, the Alternative for Germany and Italy’s League - is predicted to gain more than 30 new seats.
The report argues that far-right parties will have more involvement in EU decision-making than they have since the European Parliament became directly elected in 1979.
Its authors said the report should "serve as a wake-up call for European policymakers about what is at stake” in the election.
Professor Simon Hix, one of the authors, said: "Against a backdrop of stirring populism, which may reach a new peak with the return of Donald Trump as US president later this year, parties of the political mainstream need to wake up and take clear stock of voter demands.
“They should make clear, on key issues relating to democracy and the rule of law, that it is they, and not those on the political fringes, who are best placed to protect fundamental European rights.”
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The far-right Identity and Democracy group - which includes France’s National Rally, the Alternative for Germany and Italy’s League - is predicted to gain more than 30 new seats
PA
He added: “June’s elections, for those who want to see a more global Europe, should be about safeguarding and enhancing the position of the EU.
"Campaigns should give citizens reason for optimism. They should speak to the benefits of multilateralism.
"And they should make clear, on key issues relating to democracy and the rule of law, that it is they, and not those on the political fringes, who are best placed to protect fundamental European rights."
Co-author Dr Kevin Cunningham added: "This could have significant implications for the European Commission and Council’s ability to take forward environmental and foreign policy commitments, including the next phase of the European Green Deal."
