The EU election|The electoral movement in Europe

Measurement: Stupid to imitate the far right on migration

Parties that try to imitate the migration policy of far-right parties are likely to be punished in this summer's EU elections. This is shown by a new survey from the think tank ECFR, which has been carried out in twelve countries, including Sweden.

The reason is that the migration issue does not seem to be as important as many politicians think, ECFR writes. Even so, many parties try to imitate parties that are further to the right on the issue.

Co-author Mark Leonard tells the EU Observer that the survey shows that a more effective strategy for those who want to win back voters is to focus on the weaknesses of the EU-sceptic parties.

The study is done in the context of the fact that Europe's far right appears to be making strong progress in the election. According to Europe Elect's latest forecast, the party groups ECR (which includes the Sweden Democrats) and ID (including Marine Le Pen's National Gathering party) will together go from 135 to 175 seats.

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Everyone skipped the meeting except Kallas - who was interrupted

When Förnya Europa – the liberal party group in the EU Parliament to which the Center Party and the Liberals belong – kicked off the election campaign for the EU elections, interest was cold. Only one liberal leader in Europe showed up for the meeting in Brussels: Estonia's Kaja Kallas. Not even the Prime Minister of Belgium, Alexander De Croo, bothered to get there.

And when Kallas did speak, few listened, writes Euractiv.

- I have to say that I am not used to speaking to an audience that does not immediately listen, Kallas said a few minutes into the speech.

- But you know, we are liberals, everyone does what they want, she joked.

It was a sharp contrast to the Christian Democratic party group EPP's congress in early March, which Euractiv describes as a "show of strength and unity".

Renew Europe seems headed for a nightmare election, according to Europe Elect's forecast. The 108 seats in the parliament look set to be 82, a decline that can only be matched by the Green party group.