But don’t expect a single Euroskeptic group any time soon
By Maïa de La Baume
July 2, 2021
Sixteen European right-wing populist parties, including several in government, joined forces on Friday to rail against the EU’s political direction, declaring the bloc to be “a tool of radical forces” trying to build a superstate.
The parties that signed the declaration include Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz, Poland’s governing Law and Justice, France’s National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen, Austria’s Freedom Party, Spain’s Vox and Italy’s League and Brothers of Italy, led by Matteo Salvini and Giorgia Meloni respectively.
The signatories come from different political families that have often struggled to work together, and some suggested it was a step toward forming a single group. But MEPs and officials told POLITICO a single European Parliament faction was not on the cards any time soon.
“The EU is becoming more and more a tool of radical forces that would like to carry out a cultural, religious transformation and ultimately a nationless construction of Europe, aiming to create … a European Superstate,” the parties wrote.
They framed the declaration as a contribution to the debate about the EU now underway in a Conference on the Future of Europe launched earlier this year.
“European nations should be based on tradition, respect for the culture and history of European states, respect for Europe’s Judeo-Christian heritage and the common values that unite our nations,” they declared.
“We reaffirm our belief that family is the basic unit of our nations. In a time when Europe is facing a serious demographic crisis with low birth rates and ageing population, pro-family policy making should be an answer instead of mass immigration.”
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