A diffuse alliance of pro-EU parties has largely held its ground in European elections, after a bruising battle with anti-establishment groups in which Emmanuel Macron’s En Marche was narrowly defeated in France. 

Turnout rose for the first time in 40 years, as voters returned a more fragmented pro-EU majority, with traditional centre-ground parties losing seats to Greens and Liberals. Eurosceptic and far-right parties made modest gains, securing roughly a quarter of all MEP seats.

The results across the EU’s 28 member states will have a decisive impact on the political direction in Brussels for the next five years, determining the parliament’s stance on sensitive issues such as green taxes and international trade deals. They will also weigh heavily on the race for the bloc’s top jobs.