The European far right is expected to gain new visibility in the next European Parliament, with surveys predicting these parties to win around 144 seats out of 720. This increase in far-right influence will likely weaken the bloc’s liberal-democratic framework and lead to a more Eurosceptic European Parliament. While foreign policy is generally secondary for far-right parties, their views on international issues tend to be contextual and adaptable. Opportunistic needs to form a majority often outweigh divergent opinions among these parties.
One significant divide within the European far right is their stance on Russia. Some parties, such as the AfD in Germany, FPÖ in Austria, and Lega in Italy, hold strong pro-Russian positions. Others, like Brothers of Italy, Vox in Spain, and PiS in Poland, are pro-US and pro-NATO, thus supporting Ukraine’s efforts. This inconsistency in foreign policy positions amongst far-right parties may result in more sceptical voices being heard in the European Parliament, particularly regarding Ukraine’s war effort and its EU accession bid. The far right’s influence could lead to more isolationist arguments regarding the cost and implications of supporting Ukraine.
The European far right is united on certain foreign policy issues, such as climate change, where they generally advocate for delaying action and criticize the Green Deal as costly and bureaucratic. Most far-right parties also tend to be pro-Israeli in the Israel-Gaza conflict, viewing Israel as fighting against Islamist terrorism. Antisemitism has toned down in European far-right rhetoric, though it hasn’t disappeared entirely. A more far-right EU is expected to take a harder line on migration, with leaders like Giorgia Meloni advocating for a big EU plan to support Africa’s economic development in exchange for retaining migrants.
The European far right appears divided on China, with some countries, like Hungary, becoming gateways for Chinese interests in Europe, while others, such as Italy, have withdrawn from agreements due to concerns over Chinese influence. The ability of the far right to influence EU foreign policy will depend on their ability to form coalitions and potentially adjust their policies based on the outcome of the US presidential elections. Overall, the European far right is expected to advocate for a foreign policy less committed to liberal democratic values and more inclined towards transactional policies with the rest of the world.
