Eurosceptic and far-right
parties have seized ground in elections to the European parliament, in
what France's PM called a "political earthquake".
UK Independence Party and French National Front both
performed strongly. The three big centrist blocs all lost seats, though
still hold the majority.
The outcome means a greater say for those who want to cut back the EU's powers, or abolish it completely.
UK PM David Cameron said the public was "disillusioned" with the EU.
Mr Cameron said their message was "received and understood".
French President Francois Hollande has called an urgent meeting of
his cabinet, as Prime Minister Manuel Valls promised tax cuts a day
after the results which he described as "a shock, an earthquake".
Chancellor Angela Merkel - whose party topped the poll in
Germany - described the far right victories as "remarkable and
regrettable" and said the best response was to boost economic growth and
jobs.
Jose Manuel Barroso, outgoing president of the European
Commission, stressed that the pro-EU blocs still had "a very solid and
workable majority".
He said a "truly democratic debate" was needed to address the concerns of those who did not vote, or "voted in protest".
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