Far-right parties form group in EU parliament

A new eurosceptic political group in the European Parliament (EP), the Europe of Nations and Freedoms group, was announced on 16 June 2015, under the leading role of the Dutch PVV and the French National Front (FN).

Front National's leader, Marine Le Pen, was the first to make the announcement on Twitter.

The new group was set to become the second anti-EU and anti-immigrant faction in the EP. The existing one, Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy (EFDD), led by British MEP Nigel Farage, kept its distance from Ms Le Pen, seen as politically toxic in many sectors and countries. However, they joined forces to reject a resolution on the relations between the European Union and Russia.

The creation of a political group in the EP means extra EU funding, better committee posts, and more speaking time in plenary for its members. Marine Le Pen and Geert Wilders had unsuccessfully tried to create a political group right after the European election in May 2014.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Le Pen fails to create far-right EP faction http://www.europeansources.info/record/le-pen-fails-to-create-far-right-ep-faction/

EurActiv, 16.06.15: Le Pen's new EU Parliament group to scoop €17.5 million of public money http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-priorities-2020/le-pens-new-eu-parliament-group-scoop-eu175-million-public-money-315410

Politico, 15.06.15: France’s far right forms bloc in European Parliament http://www.politico.eu/article/frances-national-front-forms-bloc-in-european-parliament/

Deutsche Welle, 16.06.15: Le Pen's FN to form far-right group in EU parliament http://dw.de/p/1Fhi2

BBC News, 16.06.15: France's Le Pen announces far-right bloc of anti-EU MEPs http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-33147247

The Local.fr, 16.06.15: National Front creates new far-right EU group http://www.thelocal.fr/20150616/national-front-announces-far-right-eu-parliamentary-group

DutchNews.nl, 15.06.15: Wilders creates his seven ‘party’ European alliance after all http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2015/06/wilders-creates-his-seven-party-european-alliance-after-all/

Politico, 16.06.15: The Le Pen factor http://www.politico.eu/article/the-le-pen-factor/

EUObserver, 16.06.15: Le Pen becomes group leader in EU parliament https://euobserver.com/political/129140

EurActiv, 16.06.15: Dissolve the eurozone, says new extreme right group http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-priorities-2020/dissolve-eurozone-says-new-extreme-right-group-315441

openDemocracy: Can Europe Make It?, 16.06.15: Why the new far-right political group in the European Parliament is a political failure https://www.opendemocracy.net/can-europe-make-it/cas-mudde/why-new-farright-political-group-in-european-parliament-is-destined-to-

Politico, 22.06.15: How Le Pen did it http://www.politico.eu/article/how-le-pen-did-it-fn-enf/

The Conversation, 29.06.15: Marine Le Pen has a new right-wing group in Europe – should we be worried? https://theconversation.com/marine-le-pen-has-a-new-right-wing-group-in-europe-should-we-be-worried-43983

EurActiv, 01.07.15: Le Pen and Juncker clash at Parliament leaders' meeting http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-priorities-2020/le-pen-and-juncker-clash-parliament-leaders-meeting-315877

Politico 02.07.15: Le Pen denied front-row seat in Parliament http://www.politico.eu/article/le-pen-denied-front-row-seat-in-parliament/

Politico, 08.07.15: Le Pen’s €3 million pot http://www.politico.eu/article/le-pens-e3-million-pot/

EurActiv, 20.07.15: Extreme right group poaches S&D MEP http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-priorities-2020/extreme-right-group-poaches-sd-mep-316455

EurActiv, 31.07.15: Wilders inquiry puts far right group under strain http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-priorities-2020/wilders-inquiry-puts-far-right-group-under-strain-316722

EurActiv, 18.05.16: Extreme-right MEPs cost taxpayers one million euros a month http://www.euractiv.com/section/science-policymaking/news/weds-extreme-right-meps-cost-taxpayers-one-million-euros-a-month/

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