With France's National Front, far-right parties form group in EU parliament to get more clout

French far right party, Front national, President Marine Le Pen, center right, poses with other members of the far right after a media conference at the European Parliament in Brussels on Tuesday, June 16, 2015. The far right parties in the European Parliament say they have mustered enough unity to form a political group in the European Parliament under the leadership of France’s National Front of Marine Le Pen. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo) (The Associated Press)

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French far right party, Front national, President Marine Le Pen, second right, speaks during a media conference at the European Parliament in Brussels on Tuesday, June 16, 2015. The far right parties in the European Parliament say they have mustered enough unity to form a political group in the European Parliament under the leadership of France’s National Front of Marine Le Pen. At right is Dutch far-right Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo) (The Associated Press)

Dutch far-right Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders waits for the start of a media conference at the European Parliament in Brussels on Tuesday, June 16, 2015. The far right parties in the European Parliament say they have mustered enough unity to form a political group in the European Parliament under the leadership of France’s National Front of Marine Le Pen. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo) (The Associated Press)

The far-right parties in the European Parliament say they have mustered enough unity to form a political group under the leadership of France's National Front of Marine Le Pen.

Tuesday's move of the National front, the Dutch PVV of Geert Wilders, Austria's Freedom Party, Italy's Northern League and the Belgian Flemish Interest Party will give them more clout in the European Union legislature and add more of an anti-EU flavor to proceedings.

Most of the parties made gains in last year's European elections but until now had failed to find enough cohesion to form a united group.

Forming a recognized group gives the politicians more staff, right of initiative and access to funds.

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