Eurosceptic nationalists have made big gains in European Parliament elections.
Critics of the EU have more than doubled their seats in what's being seen as a continent-wide backlash against austerity and unemployment.
In France the far-right anti-immigration, anti-euro National Front came top for the first time in its four-decade history.
Party leader Marine Le Pen welcomed the outcome.
(SOUNDBITE)(French) MARINE LE PEN, NATIONAL FRONT LEADER, SAYING:
"The sovereign people have spoken loud and clear, as in all the great moments of its history, in alliance with all those who no longer believe in France and who think the French are no longer worthy of liberty or sovereignty, the sovereign people acclaim that they want to take back in their hands the reins of their destiny."
In Britain the anti-European Union UK Independence Party was also celebrating major gains.
Early data put it ahead of the governing Conservatives and main opposition Labour pa
