European elections 2024: results and challenges ahead

We can all hang our hats when we analyse the European Parliament elections. The EU visions were hollow, but the feared landslide victory of the far-right or far-left did not happen either.

In Finland, the governing parties held their ground well, with the exception of the Finns. Here, of course, the Left did rise, but this was mainly due to the personal charisma and personality of the Left Alliance's chairman, Li Andersson MP.

EU criticism did not bite at these latitudes. This was probably due to the general security situation. The EU and NATO are perceived as friends and Finns want to be secure in these organisations. We are part of the West and we want to continue to be so.

Elsewhere, criticism of the EU was stronger, with populist parties gaining ground in both France and Germany. In Germany, the far-right AfD party came second, ahead of the Social Democratic Party led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz. In France, the National Party, mainly known as the party of Marine Le Pen, was the clear winner of the elections. The result led President Macron to call new parliamentary elections in July.

The three main parties in the European Union (Conservatives (EPP), Socialists (S&D), Liberals (Renew)) maintained their positions, so the election result did not bring major changes to the Union's politics or governance. The three largest ones will also give the current Commission President Ursula von der Leyen a further term.

The Greens' big losses in several countries mean that the green agenda will take a small, but not significant, hit that will lead to a major policy shift in the EU. In virtually all EU countries, the mainstream parties recognise climate change and are ready to take action to slow global warming.

In addition to the green agenda, the next Commission will put more emphasis on the competitiveness of European industry, security of supply and strategic autonomy vis-à-vis China and the US. Support for Ukraine and Ukraine's role will be central and crucial over the next five years. From this perspective, EU unity will be measured for the first time when deciding on the appointments and the future work programme of the Commission. The more united the EU is, the more weight it will carry in the debate on Ukraine's future. Peace and its promotion is one of the cornerstones of the EU, and let us not forget it.

Riina Nevamäki

The author is a partner at Blic.