Opponents of European integration have had their hand strengthened with the recent election of right wing members from Britain, and combined with other nationalists will be a bloc that cannot be ignored. Amid the bland blue, grey and white neutrality of the debating chamber, a collection of mini-Union Jacks on a collection of tables stand out. The members sitting with flags are from the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) which wants to leave the European Union - until now seen as existing on the fringes. But since the European elections in June, hardline euroskeptics are taking center stage. Britain's Conservative Party has carried out a promise to leave the main center-right grouping in the European Parliament, and form its own alliance, with politicians from across Europe opposed to deeper political union. Even allowing for different strands of euroskepticism, opponents of deeper EU integration have never been so numerous or prominent.
Amid the bland blue, grey and white neutrality of the debating chamber, a collection of mini-Union Jacks on a collection of tables stand out.
The members sitting with flags are from the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) which wants to leave the European Union - until now seen as existing on the fringes.
But since the European elections in June, hardline euroskeptics are taking center stage.
Britain's Conservative Party has carried out a promise to leave the main center-right grouping in the European Parliament, and form its own alliance, with politicians from across Europe opposed to deeper political union.
Even allowing for different strands of euroskepticism, opponents of deeper EU integration have never been so numerous or prominent.
