Europe's far right seeks policy influence to match seat gains

Luigi Scazzieri, senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform, said the centre-right EPP has already cooled on attempts to fold broader environmental policies into the Green Deal package. Scazzieri said he could also envisage a right-wing push to increase external processing of migrants and a tougher passage of reforms required to allow EU enlargement, such as reducing the need for unanimity in decisions.

"I expect this to play out over time rather than have an immediate effect," Scazzieri said. "They also have quite a powerful shaping effect on the broader political debate."