A shift in political balance is being observed in the European Parliament, as the center-right European People’s Party (EPP) increasingly seeks cooperation with far-right groups. This phenomenon was particularly evident in decisions on migration policy, with reports emerging that EPP lawmakers coordinated with far-right parties in advance to support a project for so-called “return hubs.” This is not merely a coincidence of votes but a sign of strategic cooperation, involving coordinated wording and efforts to assemble a joint majority.

Nicolai von Ondarza, an expert at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), assessed this event not as a one-off case but as a structural change in how the Parliament operates. He noted that the EPP now has the option to choose between two types of majority: the traditional pro-European coalition (with Socialists and Liberals) and, increasingly, with right-wing radical parties. Ondarza emphasized that over 80% of decisions are still carried by the mainstream pro-European majority, but cooperation with the far right is no longer taboo, and such exceptions are occurring more frequently.

Sophia Russack, a Research Fellow at the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) in Brussels, described this situation as the “new normal.” She pointed out that in Germany, the “Brandmauer” (firewall) principle against the far right still holds strong, but in the rest of Europe, such cooperation is no longer that shocking. Russack highlighted the key distinction between accidental overlap and active cooperation: the EPP has long defended itself by saying it cannot prevent far-right parties from voting the same way, but there is growing evidence of behind-the-scenes coordination on texts and efforts to forge majorities.

This strategic shift may bring short-term benefits to the EPP, allowing it to choose legislative partners from both the left and the right, but it carries long-term risks. Ondarza warned that the more often the EPP turns to the right, the less willing Socialists and Liberals may be to cooperate on many issues, potentially leading to instability and unpredictability in the European Union. Moreover, by legitimizing the far right as a partner, the center-right risks empowering forces that aim not just to influence policy but to reshape the EU’s political character, which could ultimately weaken the conservatives themselves.

Russack cited migration as an example, where positions and terms once considered politically unthinkable are now being adopted by the center-right. She noted that when the far right becomes a long-term source of support for the center-right, it gains leverage to influence language, priorities, and the boundaries of European policy. These changes could fundamentally alter the decision-making process in the European Parliament, posing serious implications for the future of the European Union.

Source: www.dw.com