Leaders of the Patriots for Europe alliance gathered in Fontainebleau on Sunday to declare their intent to work together for what they described as the restoration of Europe’s strength, peace, and freedom. In a joint statement, the parties expressed concern that while many nations now base their politics on defending national interests, the European Union remains anchored in outdated ideological frameworks. This, they argue, threatens to push Europe and its nations to the sidelines of global relevance.
The gathering was attended by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán; Santiago Abascal, president of the Spanish Vox party and president of Patriots for Europe; Leader of the French opposition National Rally Marine Le Pen; Jordan Bardella, president of both the National Rally and the Patriots for Europe group in the European Parliament; Kinga Gál, first vice-president of the Patriots for Europe EP group and vice-president of Fidesz; and Afroditi Latinopoulou, Member of the European Parliament from the Greek Voice of Logic party and member of the Patriots for Europe group.
The statement emphasized that the EU and its member states must adopt a strategic power policy if European nations are to enjoy lasting peace, economic prosperity, and freedom secured by defence capability, economic strength, and independence. According to the alliance, current EU leadership, particularly under the European Commission, is failing on all these fronts. Special criticism was aimed at the Green Deal, which the group described as economically harmful and ideologically driven, damaging to farmers, businesses, and industry across the continent. In contrast, they called for policies that support industrial development, economic competitiveness, and energy sovereignty.
‘Peace must remain the continent’s highest priority’
The war in Ukraine, which has unfolded on Europe’s doorstep since February 2022, was cited as a reminder of how fragile the peace built after World War II remains. The Patriots warned that this peace is under threat when geopolitical reality is replaced by ideological assumptions. While acknowledging the need for Europe to ensure its own security, they firmly rejected the idea of returning to warfare or deploying troops to Ukraine. Instead, they argued for Europe to act as a mediator and supporter in resolving regional conflicts, insisting that peace must remain the continent’s highest priority.
The alliance also expressed concern about a resurgence of antisemitism within Europe, which they claimed is increasingly fuelled by rhetoric from the radical left. As heirs to a continent once devastated by Nazi barbarism, they argued that Europeans cannot tolerate new forms of religious violence within their borders.
In their statement, the Patriots expressed alarm over what they described as a gradual erosion of fundamental democratic rights and freedoms. They criticized the EU for applying double standards to political forces that do not align with its liberal mainstream, especially regarding sovereignty and migration policy. They claim that many citizens are now being denied the right to determine their own country’s future due to the European Commission’s ideological and interventionist agenda.
Protecting individual rights, they argued, also means defending the social and cultural identity of Europe’s peoples. In their view, current EU migration policies endanger both security and identity in member states, with the effects visible even in remote rural areas.
‘Current EU migration policies endanger both security and identity in member states’
Their vision for Europe’s renewal centres on restoring respect for democracy, liberty, and the sovereignty of EU nations, as well as preserving citizens’ right to freely choose their leaders. They also voiced strong opposition to politicized courts and institutions they say misuse democratic principles to punish opposition leaders or invalidate election outcomes. The Green Deal was again highlighted as a failed policy in need of replacement, with calls for a more pragmatic and cost-efficient energy strategy tied to reindustrialization. On migration, they rejected all proposals aimed at reopening borders or redistributing migrants across Europe.
They also called for renewed efforts to combat antisemitism and emphasized that there is no place in Europe for any form of religious violence. Alongside a rejection of sending troops to Ukraine, they warned that further escalation would spread the current conflict and lead to broader instability. While they support strengthening the defensive capabilities of EU member states, they rejected the idea of transferring military powers to EU institutions.
Ukraine’s potential EU membership raised serious concerns, which the group believes could result in unpredictable consequences, especially regarding agriculture, food security, labour markets, and the safety of existing member states.
Closing the summit, the leaders stressed their ambition to rebuild Europe around patriotic political movements committed to protecting national interests. Their shared vision, they claimed, offers the only path toward a Europe that once again guarantees peace, security, and prosperity for its citizens.
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