The June 2024 edition of the IRMO Brief, authored by Thomas Brey, deals with the elections for the European Parliament that took place between 6th and 9th June 2024. The clear winner is the EPP (European People’s Party) with 185 seats, followed by the Social Democrats with 137 MEPs. The two far-right factions have 131 MPs in the new parliament, which means they are a long way from a parliamentary majority. Nonetheless, the EU must find an answer to the rise of populism and right-wing extremism. At the same time, extremely low turnout of voters recorded in some EU members states is a reason for wariness in Brussels. The Union also needs to define its positions on projects such as European defense, internal reform, climate policy and migration. The author also analyses how positions on Russia by some EU members including Hungary and Slovakia, could put the EU’s foreign policy to the test.
Image: European Parliament
