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EU leaders to discuss election fallout in Brussels EU leaders to discuss election fallout in Brussels
(about 1 hour later)
European leaders are due to meet in Brussels to discuss the fallout of the recent EU elections, amid growing calls for changes to the union.European leaders are due to meet in Brussels to discuss the fallout of the recent EU elections, amid growing calls for changes to the union.
French President Francois Hollande, whose party was beaten by the far right, wants more focus on the economy.French President Francois Hollande, whose party was beaten by the far right, wants more focus on the economy.
UK PM David Cameron says it cannot be "business as usual", after being beaten by the UK Independence Party.UK PM David Cameron says it cannot be "business as usual", after being beaten by the UK Independence Party.
Despite the rise of anti-establishment parties, pro-European parties still won most votes overall.Despite the rise of anti-establishment parties, pro-European parties still won most votes overall.
Vote 2014Vote 2014
Full coverage of resultsFull coverage of results
Tuesday's informal summit is the first opportunity for all 28 leaders to discuss the way forward after the game-changing European Parliament elections.Tuesday's informal summit is the first opportunity for all 28 leaders to discuss the way forward after the game-changing European Parliament elections.
Many of those there will have faced a tough few days at home, correspondents say.Many of those there will have faced a tough few days at home, correspondents say.
Francois Hollande has described his domestic results as "painful". The far-right National Front stormed to victory with a preliminary 25% of the vote, pushing Mr Hollande's Socialists into third place. Mr Hollande has described his domestic results as "painful". The far-right National Front stormed to victory with a preliminary 25% of the vote, pushing Mr Hollande's Socialists into third place.
Mr Hollande - who has always been a champion of the EU - told French TV the union had become "remote and incomprehensible", and that it had overcome the crisis in the eurozone "but at what price? An austerity that has ended up disheartening the people". National Front President Marine Le Pen said on Tuesday that her party - which Germany's Finance Minister, the pro-EU Wolfgang Schaeuble, described as "fascist" - would use its electoral mandate to "defend France" and fight "crazy measures like votes for immigrants".
Matthew Price, BBC News, BrusselsMatthew Price, BBC News, Brussels
Europe has not "voted against the EU". The vast majority of those who bothered to cast a ballot did so for parties that are pro-EU.Europe has not "voted against the EU". The vast majority of those who bothered to cast a ballot did so for parties that are pro-EU.
Yes, the focus is understandably on France and the UK, with Denmark, Greece, and others also giving Euro-enthusiasts cause for concern. However in many countries mainstream parties dominated - in Germany, Italy, Poland where it was felt a growing Eurosceptic movement could break through, in the Netherlands and elsewhere. Yes, the focus is understandably on France and the UK, with Denmark, Greece, and others also giving Euro-enthusiasts cause for concern.
So the results do not constitute a "problem" as such for the leaders of the EU. Many leaders will point this out around the dinner table tonight. Others, however, will stress that a sizeable chunk of voters chose parties that want "Brussels" to change, and that the EU needs to address this issue if it is to maintain popular support and legitimacy in the longer term. However in many countries mainstream parties dominated - in Germany, Italy, Poland - where it was felt a growing Eurosceptic movement could break through - in the Netherlands and elsewhere.
Anti-EU forces overshadow Brussels talksAnti-EU forces overshadow Brussels talks
Mr Hollande said that at Tuesday's meeting he would "reaffirm that the priority is growth, jobs and investment". Mr Hollande, who has always been a champion of the EU, admitted that the union had become "remote and incomprehensible", but he said he would use Tuesday's summit meeting to "reaffirm that the priority is growth, jobs and investment".
But National Front President Marine Le Pen said her party would use its electoral mandate to "defend France" and fight "crazy measures like votes for immigrants". Meanwhile Mr Cameron, whose Conservative Party lost seven seats in the European Parliament, said it was clear voters were "deeply disillusioned" with Europe and that the message had been "received and understood".
The BBC's Matthew Price in Brussels says she made a direct challenge, not just to French politicians, but to Brussels too - saying it must listen to the people, and that the French had to protect their nation. UKIP took 27% of the vote in the UK, marking the first time in a century that a party other than the Conservatives or Labour has won a UK election.
Mr Cameron, whose Conservative party lost seven seats in the European Parliament, said it was clear voters were "deeply disillusioned" with Europe and that the message had been "received and understood". 'Workable majority'
His party came third. UKIP took 27% of the vote, marking the first time in a century that a party other than the Conservatives or Labour had won a UK election.
But Mr Cameron insisted he would neither bring forward the date of an in/out referendum on UK withdrawal from the EU - scheduled for 2017 - nor seek a pact with UKIP.
In Germany, Angela Merkel - whose conservative Christian Democratic Union won a comfortable 35% of the vote - said it was now up to the established parties to win voters back by focusing on "improving competitiveness, on growth and creating jobs".
'Truly democratic debate'
Despite the unprecedented Eurosceptic gains across the Union, Jose Manuel Barroso, outgoing president of the European Commission, insisted that the pro-EU blocs still had "a very solid and workable majority".Despite the unprecedented Eurosceptic gains across the Union, Jose Manuel Barroso, outgoing president of the European Commission, insisted that the pro-EU blocs still had "a very solid and workable majority".
The centre-right European People's Party appears set to win 213 out of the 751 seats, with 28.36% across the bloc, according to estimated results issued by the European Parliament. That would mean it remains the biggest group - but with more than 60 seats fewer than before. Turnout across Europe is estimated at 43.1%, the first time it has not fallen since the previous election.
The Socialist alliance has a projected 190 seats, with 25.3% of the vote, the Liberals 9% and the Greens 7%.
The Eurosceptic Europe of Freedom and Democracy group appeared to have around 38 seats. But the number of non-attached right-wing MEPs is set to rise, boosting the Eurosceptic camp.
Mr Barroso said a "truly democratic debate" was needed to address the concerns of those who did not vote, or "voted in protest".
Turnout across Europe is estimated at 43.1%, the first time it has not fallen since the previous election - but it has only increased by 0.1%.
The parliament's powers have expanded since the last election in 2009, and it is hoping to have a decisive say in who gets the EU's top job, president of the European Commission.The parliament's powers have expanded since the last election in 2009, and it is hoping to have a decisive say in who gets the EU's top job, president of the European Commission.
You can follow full coverage with all the latest updates at bbc.co.uk/vote2014.You can follow full coverage with all the latest updates at bbc.co.uk/vote2014.