Eurosceptics are forecast to make major gains in the elections. The expected clash of values will have ramifications for research funding – even if it’s an issue far from many voters’ minds.
The looming European Parliament elections that will shape EU politics for the next five years and beyond will be fought on many issues: immigration; defence; greater EU integration, an assessment of the whole 60-year EU experiment; a choice for or against Europe.
If previous races have been largely preordained, there’s a real possibility this time around that anti-EU parties could win enough seats to disrupt legislative business, rather than just rail against it. That outcome could break the dominance of the conservative European Peoples’ Party (EPP) and Social-Democrats, with early voter intention surveys indicating both blocks will fail to win an outright majority.