.{{cite news
| last =Mahony
| first =Honor
| title =Far-right group formed in European Parliament
| publisher =EUobserver
| date =2007-01-09
| url =http://euobserver.com/9/23223
| accessdate =2007-01-10 }}{{cite news
| title =Rechtsaußenbündnis im Europaparlament entsteht
| publisher =Der Standard
| date =2007-01-09
| url =http://derstandard.at/?url=/?id=2717104
| accessdate =2007-01-10 }}

Origin and policies

Initially with 20 MEPs from seven nations, the group only narrowly surpassed the threshold value of 20 MEPs from six nations required for formal recognition and receipt of EU funding. Previous attempts at creating a far-right grouping had been stymied by these restrictions, which require the group to be of a minimum size and to have representation from more than 20% of all member states. With the accession of Bulgaria and Romania and the addition to the Parliament of MEPs from National Union Attack (1 MEP) and the Greater Romania Party (PRM) (5 MEP), respectively, this barrier was surmounted.

The group's founding charter has been described as "broadly anti-immigration, anti-EU constitution and anti-Turkish EU membership," while participants have emphasised that the group will function relatively loosely. Alessandra Mussolini described it as "more a technical than a political group ... We are mainly getting together out of necessity. Survival is only possible in a political group."{{cite news
| last =Mahony
| first =Honor
| title =Plans for European far-right group intensify
| publisher =EUobserver
| date =2007-01-08
| url =http://euobserver.com/9/23196
| accessdate =2007-01-13 }}
The Romanian PRM leader stated that he favours a strong association and eventual EU membership for Turkey provided it settles the dispute regarding Cyprus and that the common ground for the new group is based exactly on the values the group's name suggests.Romanian ''OTV'' channel, January 10 2007

Following the Bulgarian European Parliament elections, the group gained two more Ataka MEPs, Slavcho Binev and Desislav Chukolov.

The largest component of the group is France's National Front, and includes several political parties associated with Euronat, an existing unofficial grouping of far-right parties. The group's chair is Bruno Gollnisch (National Front).

Membership

| rowspan=8 |
| width=30% | Party

| No.

| rowspan=8 |
| width=50% | Members

Group Bureau

Bruno Gollnisch, Chair (France)

Philip Claeys, Vice-Chair (Belgium)

Eugen Mihăescu, Vice-Chair (Romania)

Ashley Mote, Vice-Chair (United Kingdom)

Petre Popeangă, Treasurer (Romania)

Andreas Mölzer, Member at large, representing FPÖ (Austria)

Dimitar Stoyanov, Member at large, representing Ataka (Bulgaria)

Alessandra Mussolini, Member at large, representing AS (Italy)

Luca Romagnoli, Member at large, representing FT (Italy)