BRIEF Ioannis Alexandris The Rise of Radical Right and Eurosceptic Political Forces and the Impact on the EU’s Enlargement Policy 1. Introduction The rise of Eurosceptic radical right parties across the EU With war raging on the European Union’s eastern border and the bloc seeking to redefine its geopolitical identity, another political transformation is unfolding within: the growing influence of radical right and Eurosceptic parties. Once largely marginalised actors, these forces are now increasingly reshaping Europe’s political priorities from within national parliaments and Brussels. This report takes stock of the growing influence of radical right and Eurosceptic political forces within the EU and examines the implications for EU enlargement policy. By shedding light on the developments in several EU member states, this report aims to map the challenges that these dynamics are likely to pose for the rejuvenated momentum on EU enlargement and the prospects of an enlarged Europe. In recent years, the political landscape of Europe has witnessed a notable surge in radical right and Eurosceptic forces. Fratelli d’Italia in Italy has been in charge of right­wing coalition since 2022, while some other parties, such as the Dutch Freedom Party(PVV), have joined forces with mainstream parties in governmental coalitions. Beyond direct participation in government, radical right parties exert significant influence by shaping the policy agendas of mainstream conservative and centrist parties. The Sweden Democrats(SD) do not hold ministerial positions but provide crucial parliamentary support to the ruling right-wing coalition, effectively pressuring the government to adopt tougher positions on migration and sovereignty. Similarly, Spain’s Vox has acted as a kingmaker in regional coalitions, shifting discourse towards more nativist priorities. These cases highlight how such parties, even in opposition or informal alliances, can push their agendas into the mainstream by compelling traditional conservative parties to shift rightward to avoid electoral losses. At first glance, the European elections of June 2024 did not significantly shift the balance of power within the European Parliament, as centrist pro-EU parties(European People’s Party- EPP, Socialists& Democrats- S&D, and The Rise of Radical Right and Eurosceptic Political Forces and the Impact on the EU’s Enlargement Policy 1