The European Movement International is deeply concerned about the rise of far-right and anti-European parties following a low voter turnout in the European Parliament elections.

The low turnout shows that the campaigns of the mainstream parties were not successful in engaging the European citizens in European politics. The rise of anti-European parties, especially in France and the UK, needs to serve as a wake-up call to the political class to stop blaming ‘Brussels’ for their own errors at home.

The European Movement International further expects the outcome of these elections and the wish of the new European Parliament to be fully respected by the European Council in the nomination of the candidate for President of the European Commission.

Jo Leinen MEP, President of the European Movement International, said that “European policy should be regarded as domestic policy and communicated as such to the people. The European Union is not a foreign power, but a community of states which jointly pursue their common interests and also decide together. Nevertheless national politicians tend to either neglect European politics or blame the EU for every unpopular measure, as if they had nothing to do with it“.

Mr Leinen continued “Instead of just focusing on the EU some weeks ahead of the European elections, there must be a constant discussion in the Member States about European issues and the alternatives offered by the different parties of the political spectrum”.