MOSCOW (Sputnik), Daria Chernyshova — The newly formed Europe of Nations and Freedom group will have more influence in the European Parliament as soon as its members get to national governments in their home countries, a member of the Parliament for the Austrian Freedom Party told Sputnik Thursday.
“Don’t forget that the member parties are strong forces in their home countries,” Georg Mayer said.
“Sooner or later they will also be in government and therefore have influence in the council, which is more important in that regard,” he added.
Earlier this week, head of French Front National Marine Le Pen announced the establishment of a new bloc in the European Parliament — Europe of Nations and Freedom. The anti-European Union bloc currently comprises 36 lawmakers from France, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and Poland.
“In the short time it will not be possible to make a U-turn in the immigration policy, but in the long run we will of course have a strong impact on direction of this policy,” Mayer told Sputnik.
He explained that the group was founded as a response to "growing resistance" against the European Union and its "wrong policies." The lawmaker added that more and more members will join the group in the future.
The group is expected to consider several requests from the members of the European Parliament to join the anti-EU group as early as next week.
Europe of Nations and Freedom unites lawmakers primarily from the French Front National, Austrian Freedom Party, Dutch Freedom Party, Italy's Northern League, Polish Congress of the New Right, Flemish group Vlaams Belang, and a UK member of the European Parliament who used to be a member of the UK Independence Party.
The European Union has recently witnessed a rise in the popularity of Eurosceptic parties and movements, gathering support in a number of EU member states.
