Politician · organisation

Steve Bannon on European Union

Vocal anti-EU proponent (strong)

TL;DR

Steve Bannon is a vocal opponent of the European Union, aiming to dismantle the bloc through pan-European nationalist movements.

Key Points

He aimed to forge a new populist "supergroup" in the European Parliament to push back against the bloc's structure.
His Brussels-based organization, The Movement, was explicitly founded to bolster right-wing populist groups opposed to the EU.
Several major European nationalist parties, including Poland's ruling party, rejected his offer, citing a desire to avoid breaking the union.

Summary

Steve Bannon has expressed a strong desire to weaken and ultimately dismantle the European Union, describing it as a project whose "beating heart is in Brussels." He sought to achieve this by organizing and advising right-wing populist parties across the continent through his Brussels-based organization, The Movement, with the goal of uniting a significant bloc of Members of the European Parliament to fundamentally reshape the supranational institutions. His stated aim was to drive a stake through the "Brussels vampire," believing that its collapse would lead to a continent-wide resurgence of independent, nationalist states.

His efforts involved trying to foster cooperation and provide strategic or organizational support, such as data analytics and campaign advice, to various Eurosceptic parties in time for the 2019 European Parliament elections. However, this project frequently encountered skepticism or outright rejection from many established far-right parties, who were wary of American interference or disagreed on strategy. Furthermore, existing European electoral laws often restricted the kind of foreign campaign support he intended to provide, leading to setbacks for his organizational ambitions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Steve Bannon's main goal regarding the European Union?

Steve Bannon's main goal is to see the European Union dismantled, which he has metaphorically described as driving a stake through a vampire. He advocates for a return to a collection of independent nations across the continent.

Did Steve Bannon's plan to unite European parties succeed?

His efforts to create a unified front through The Movement saw limited success in terms of broad adoption by major parties. While he engaged with several figures, many influential European right-wing groups were hesitant or explicitly declined to join his organization.

What did Steve Bannon try to achieve with 'The Movement'?

Through The Movement, Steve Bannon attempted to act as a political consultancy to advise and coordinate European right-wing populist parties. The intent was to provide them with sophisticated campaign techniques ahead of European Parliament elections.