The European Conservatives and Reformists in the European Parliament
In the European Parliament discussions are on-going about the formation of political groups. The European Conservatives and Reformists group, in which UK Conservatives are one of the largest parties, has recently admitted the Alternative fur Deutschland party, and there are fears that this might damage Anglo-German relations.
Parties are continuing negotiations to form political groups in the European Parliament (EP) following European elections on 22-25 May 2014. This note looks at the future composition of the European Conservatives and Reformists group (ECR), which was established by UK Conservatives when David Cameron took them out of the centre-right EPP-ED group in 2009.
It also considers what the entry of the German right-wing Alternative für Deutschland group into the ECR group might mean for Anglo-German relations.
The ECR might become the third largest political group in the EP, although this depends on support for the Liberals and Democrats group.
The final number and composition of EP political groups will not be known until after 24 June 2014, which is the deadline for registering groups.