03:03European Commission Chief Spokesperson Margaritis Schinas said pro-EU political forces won the day over anti-EU populists, as they have maintained a majority in the European Parliament, during a press briefing following the recent elections, on Monday, in Brussels.
"There is a pro-EU majority in the house, meaning that we can count on a constructive and engaged parliament for the next institutional cycle," Schinas said. "The populists didn't win this election. Contrary to doomsday year's prophecies, it is the pro-EU political forces across the political spectrum that won the day."
Support for populist parties, however, grew from 20 per cent in 2014 to 25 per cent in the elections that conclude on Sunday. The three main Eurosceptic groups will control a total of 171 seats, up from 154 in 2014.
Anti-EU parties in the UK, Italy and France earned the most votes in their respective countries, though Marine Le Pen's National Rally party will still lose two MEP seats in the aftermath of this election.
The elections recorded an estimated turnout of 50 per cent across the European bloc, the highest turnout in 20 years, which had previously been steadily falling with each election since 1979.
Of those results, Schinas said, "Here in the Juncker commission, we have good reason to believe that this also reflects our hard work and record of achievements over the last five years."
Belgium: 'Populists didn't win this election' says EU spokesperson
European Commission Chief Spokesperson Margaritis Schinas said pro-EU political forces won the day over anti-EU populists, as they have maintained a majority in the European Parliament, during a press briefing following the recent elections, on Monday, in Brussels.
"There is a pro-EU majority in the house, meaning that we can count on a constructive and engaged parliament for the next institutional cycle," Schinas said. "The populists didn't win this election. Contrary to doomsday year's prophecies, it is the pro-EU political forces across the political spectrum that won the day."
Support for populist parties, however, grew from 20 per cent in 2014 to 25 per cent in the elections that conclude on Sunday. The three main Eurosceptic groups will control a total of 171 seats, up from 154 in 2014.
Anti-EU parties in the UK, Italy and France earned the most votes in their respective countries, though Marine Le Pen's National Rally party will still lose two MEP seats in the aftermath of this election.
The elections recorded an estimated turnout of 50 per cent across the European bloc, the highest turnout in 20 years, which had previously been steadily falling with each election since 1979.
Of those results, Schinas said, "Here in the Juncker commission, we have good reason to believe that this also reflects our hard work and record of achievements over the last five years."
European Commission Chief Spokesperson Margaritis Schinas said pro-EU political forces won the day over anti-EU populists, as they have maintained a majority in the European Parliament, during a press briefing following the recent elections, on Monday, in Brussels.
"There is a pro-EU majority in the house, meaning that we can count on a constructive and engaged parliament for the next institutional cycle," Schinas said. "The populists didn't win this election. Contrary to doomsday year's prophecies, it is the pro-EU political forces across the political spectrum that won the day."
Support for populist parties, however, grew from 20 per cent in 2014 to 25 per cent in the elections that conclude on Sunday. The three main Eurosceptic groups will control a total of 171 seats, up from 154 in 2014.
Anti-EU parties in the UK, Italy and France earned the most votes in their respective countries, though Marine Le Pen's National Rally party will still lose two MEP seats in the aftermath of this election.
The elections recorded an estimated turnout of 50 per cent across the European bloc, the highest turnout in 20 years, which had previously been steadily falling with each election since 1979.
Of those results, Schinas said, "Here in the Juncker commission, we have good reason to believe that this also reflects our hard work and record of achievements over the last five years."