The outgoing president of the European parliament, Mr Pat Cox, has characterised the European election results as a warning to governments planning to hold a referendum on the constitutional treaty.
Speaking at the European parliament in Brussels yesterday morning, Mr Cox said that the low turnout and the gains made by anti-EU parties in some countries highlighted the need for mainstream national politicians to explain their views on Europe more clearly.
"I believe, as a pro-European, that there is a message from the results and the message is to our political leaders across the EU, that if they believe in the Union, they have a special responsibility to give leadership and to go out and sell what they believe in.
"I think this especially important as a wake-up call for those leaders in those states who propose to hold referenda on the constitutional treaty," he said.
"Today's results, up to now, appear to be the worst," Mr Cox, who chose not to stand as an MEP in this election, added, lamenting the narrow domestic focus of the debate.
"Europe has been too absent in too many campaigns."
Despite gains by Eurosceptic parties in Britain and Sweden and by populist movements in central and eastern Europe, the political shape of the new European parliament remains almost identical to the outgoing one. The centre-right European People's Party (EPP) remain the largest group with an expected 276 seats, although they have lost some ground to the Socialists, who remain in second place with an expected 200.
These two groups, together with the third largest, the Liberals, who are expected to have 66 seats, remain in control of 75 per cent of seats in the parliament. The Greens are likely to remain the fourth largest group with 42 seats.
The EPP's lead could diminish further this week when up to 20 MEPs are expected to defect to a new centrist grouping around the Liberals. Group leaders were already moving yesterday to organise alliances that could determine the choice of the next president of the parliament and the leadership of important committees.
In the last parliament, the EPP and the Liberals formed an alliance that facilitated the election, first of Ms Nicole Fontaine and later of Mr Cox. This time, the most likely alliances are between the EPP and the Socialists or between the Socialists, the new centrist group and the Greens.
The balance of power within the Socialist group has shifted, with French MEPs replacing their German colleagues as the largest element. German Socialists favour an alliance with the EPP but the French MEPs are understood to be tempted by a new centre-left alliance.
Such alliances are important in determining the distribution of top jobs but have little effect on voting patterns within the parliament.
The failure of the French right-wing MEP, Mr Charles Pasqua, to retain his seat and the reduction in Fianna Fáil's seats could call into question the future of the Union of Europe of the Nations (UEN), the group to which Fianna Fáil belongs.
Senior figures in the party have long considered joining a larger group, with the EPP remaining the most likely option, despite the fact that Fine Gael is already within the group.
It is too early to predict how the new Eurosceptic and populist MEPs will organise themselves in the parliament.
Some may join Mr Jens-Peter Bonde's Europe of Democracies and Diversity but others are likely to remain non-aligned.
The new parliament meets in Strasbourg on 19th July to choose a new president and to organise the membership of committees. The Taoiseach will report on the outcome of the Irish presidency later that week before the parliament adjourns for the summer, returning in September to consider the nominees for the next European Commission.
