Europe responds: what next for the EU?
National leaders struggle to square anti-EU sentiment with the need for a concerted response
European leaders have responded to the huge anti-EU votes in the European parliamentary elections with a mixture of shock, uncertainty and resolve.
Anti-EU and far-right parties made substantial gains in the poll. Nigel Farage's UK Independence party won 24 seats – almost twice the number it won in the last European elections in 2009.
France's far-right Front National also made a significant advance: Marine Le Pen's party now holds 24 seats in the European Parliament, compared with just three before.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
So what do the results mean for the Europe as a whole? National leaders are this morning trying to reconcile domestic pressure to react against the EU with the need to come together to plot a new course.
UKDavid Cameron launched a "full-blown attack against Nigel Farage", The Independent says, describing the Ukip leader as a "supremely tactical" and "consummate politician" whose mission is to "destroy the Conservative party". Contrary to the views of some party members, who have called for a Tory-Ukip alliance at the next general election, Cameron said that the prospect of a pact was a "great myth".
"I don't see any prospect of [a pact] happening," he said. "From what I read in the Sunday newspapers Nigel Farage wants to destroy the Conservative party, not to work in tandem with it."
The prime minister will travel to Brussels this week for informal discussions with other EU leaders on how best to respond to the election results.
Many papers reported that the EU elections had been a "failure" for Labour, but party leader Ed Miliband said that Labour's second place in the elections shows the party is "making progress".
Labour had hoped to edge out Ukip and win the European election, but the party finished second in terms of total votes. Nevertheless, party strategists will take some comfort from the 25.4 per cent share of the overall vote it received – a vast improvement on the 15.7 per cent it received in 2009.
The worst damage was done to the Liberal Democrats, who lost 11 of their 12 MEPs and came a "humiliating" fifth behind the Greens party. Nick Clegg, now faces a "fight for survival" as party leader, the Independent says.
FranceFrench president Francois Hollande said that the EU must "reform and scale back its power", the BBC reports.
"Europe has become remote and incomprehensible, even for governments," Hollande said in a television address. "This cannot continue. Europe has to be simple, clear, to be effective where it is needed and to withdraw from where it is not necessary."
He added: "Six out of ten French people did not vote. One out of four voters chose the far right".
GreeceGreece's left-wing party Syriza "bucked the lurch right" in Europe's elections, CNN notes.
At a press conference, Syriza's leader Alexis Tsipras said Europe had taken "an important step for the end of the disastrous policies of austerity and the return of democracy. The people of Europe [have] condemned the policies of austerity".
"The message is that the disastrous policy of austerity must be terminated," he said. "All European nations must invest in democracy, growth, social cohesion and solidarity."
Germany Angela Merkel won yet another election with 35 per cent of German votes going to her Christian Union. But the Eurosceptic AfD scored 7 per cent of the total vote and, in another electoral shock, the Neo-Nazi National Democratic Party of Germany (NPD) won its first EU seat.
Merkel said that the European Parliament could answer the growing anti-EU threat by tackling important issues such as employment and economic growth. "As for the good results of the populists and the right-wing, it's remarkable and regrettable," she said. "The question is how we win over voters. This is also the case for France… I think a course that focuses on competitiveness, growth and jobs is the best answer to the disappointment."
Which way next?Tim Newark, author of Protest Vote, told the Financial Times that the results represent a board desire across Europe to hear from new political voices. "Populist politicians like Farage and Le Pen are winning so many votes because they are the anti-establishment voice," Newark said. "Voters are fed up with mainstream party politicians who all sound the same and can deliver very little. The populists have an authenticity about what they say ... voters like that."
Tony Blair said on BBC Radio 4's Today programme that European leaders now have to listen, but they also have to lead.
"In each individual nation, where you are confronted with these reactionary forces, you have to confront them, expose them and take them on," he said. "You look underneath that Ukip facade and you see something pretty nasty and unpleasant. We have got to be prepared to stand up and take them on".
The European parliament has presided over a debt crisis and falling standards of living, The Times says. Voters have now "lashed out" at this election. Consequently, "European policymakers need to step back and reassess their utopian visions".
"But will it?" The Guardian's Timothy Garton Ash asks. "I have a dreadful feeling in my bones that future historians may write of the May 2014 elections: 'This was the wake-up call from which Europe failed to wake up.'"
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Netanyahu's Rafah attack vow snarls truce deal
Speed Read Hours before the truce deal was to be finalized, Netanyahu said Israel will invade Rafah regardless
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - May 1, 2024
Cartoons Wednesday's cartoons - beware of governor, biting debates, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Democrats defang GOP speaker ouster threat
Speed Read Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said she will force a vote to remove House Speaker Mike Johnson
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is David Cameron overshadowing Rishi Sunak?
Talking Point Current PM faces 'thorny dilemma' as predecessor enjoys return to world stage
By The Week UK Published
-
'Europe is now beginning to tackle its military to-do list'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Will Aukus pact survive a second Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question US, UK and Australia seek to expand 'game-changer' defence partnership ahead of Republican's possible return to White House
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
What would a second term for Ursula Von der Leyen mean for Europe?
Today's Big Question European Commission president faces far-right challenge to green agenda, Russian aggression and a faltering economy
By Elliott Goat, The Week UK Published
-
Can Cameron put the Falklands sovereignty dispute to bed?
Today's Big Question Foreign secretary says issue 'not up for discussion' ahead of visit amid renewed push from Argentina
By The Week UK Published
-
It's the economy, Sunak: has 'Rishession' halted Tory fightback?
Today's Big Question PM's pledge to deliver economic growth is 'in tatters' as stagnation and falling living standards threaten Tory election wipeout
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Will America recognize a Palestinian state?
Today's Big Question Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu opposes the move. Some see it as the only route to peace.
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Fasting to burger buffets: the weird and wonderful diets of politicians
Why Everyone's Talking About Rishi Sunak reportedly starts his week with a 36-hour fast
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published