EUROPEAN ALLIANCE FOR PEOPLE AND NATIONS (EAPN)

The group will be called the European Alliance for People and Nations (EAPN) and will  draw its members from ENF, EFDD, and ECR to involve at least 10 parties from as many nations.

The stated goal of the new group is to challenge the power of the governing bloc, with all parties involved favoring tighter immigration and border policies, and subscribing to varying levels of Euroscepticism in favor of greater national independence. While on other issues, especially economic, the players may disagree, such a group will certainly give all involved a stronger voice in the European Parliament.

If European far-right parties were to merge, they would hold 173 out of 751 seats in the EU parliamentary assembly, or 23%, which would make them the second-largest bloc in the European Parliament, according to the latest poll of polls released by the EU assembly.

The success of EAPN will depend on whether it can adequately integrate and speak with one voice at a European-wide level. With the wind in their sails, the new grouping could challenge Brussels either into taking more nationalist and nativist positions, or they could stall decision-making. Either way, the new alliance seems here to stay.