New eurosceptic group set for formal launch

Further details have emerged about a new eurosceptic group in parliament, led by Nigel Farage.

The grouping will comprise 30 MEPs from eight countries and replaces the Independence/Democracy group.

It is dominated by the 13 MEPs who won seats for the UK Independence Party in the recent European elections.

Its members also include two MEPs from  the Danish Folkeparti, one member from True Finns in Finland, one from Libertas (Mouvement pour la France, CPNT), two deputies from the Greek LAOS party and nine MEPs from the Italian Lega Nord.

Other members include one MEP  from the Dutch Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij and one from Slovenská národná strana in Slovakia.

Pundits had doubted the chances of the I/D group forging a new alliance and the new group will be one of the larger groups in parliament which meets for the first time in Strasbourg on 14 July.

Some have also questioned the choice of its new political partners, particularly the hard-line Italian right-wingers Liga Nord, and the Finnish nationlists,True Finns.

However, speaking on Wednesday, Nigel Farage the UKIP leader and the current leader of the group, said it aims to provide "real opposition" in the new parliament.

Farage added, “I am delighted to announce the formation of this group. It is a cohesive and broad based group that will be able to build on the effectiveness of the Independence/Democracy group from the last parliament.
 
"It will be able to provide real opposition to the centralising consensus of the other groups. Something that this parliament, and the free peoples of Europe have been crying out for."

The name of the new group and its programme will be presented at its  formal launch later on Wednesday.

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