Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said heB次元官网网址檚 taking an optimistic approach after Europeans made a lurch to the far-right in continental elections that could impact CanadaB次元官网网址檚 trade and climate policies.

B次元官网网址淚t shows that the far-right is becoming more mainstream across Europe,B次元官网网址� said Achim Hurrelmann, co-director of the Centre for European Studies at Carleton University.

B次元官网网址淭hey have really now become a persistent part of party systems, that we need to reckon with.B次元官网网址�

Far-right parties surged in this past weekendB次元官网网址檚 vote for the European Parliament, taking share from mainstream parties across the continent through a system of proportional representation.

French President Emmanuel Macron made a surprise call for early legislative elections after his party suffered a heavy loss to the far-right National Rally party, which gained 31 per cent of votes. Some 16 per cent of German votes went to the extreme-right Alternative for Germany, despite a series of scandals and accusations of racism.

Hurrelmann said countries like Italy and Austria also saw strong growth in support for parties that were previously deemed fringe, but have recently struck a more moderate tone.

B次元官网网址淔ar-right parties do now exist as a meaningful political force, in most of the (EU) member states,B次元官网网址� he said.

Hurrelmann said this past weekendB次元官网网址檚 vote comes at a time when there are challenges across the continent in addressing concerns around the cost of living and immigration.

The results are influenced by unique factors in each country, Hurrelmann said, and he argued the high support in France and Germany amount to a protest vote against those two governments.

But he said some issues percolate across the continent, such as the cost of the war in Ukraine, and the argument that letting Russia proceed with its invasion might lower high gas prices.

He noted that the European Green Deal includes carbon-reduction policies that are in line with Canadian policies, but there is a rise in parties across the continent that want to reform that project.

B次元官网网址淭he most interesting field to watch is probably climate-change policy,B次元官网网址� he said.

Last November, Canada and the EU declared they were in a B次元官网网址渟teadily deepening partnershipB次元官网网址� focused on working for global stability, fighting climate change and upholding human rights.

But Hurrelmann said growing populism could see a more insular approach from Europe, particularly if American voters return Donald Trump to the White House on promises to disregard global rules and institutions.

B次元官网网址淲e are already seeing in Europe more tendencies towards actually looking out for EuropeB次元官网网址檚 interests, as opposed to primarily trying to protect the rules-based international order,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淭hat could be quite problematic for Canada, if Europe is no longer this uncompromising ally for Canadian priorities.B次元官网网址�

On Monday, Trudeau reacted to the results in France, noting that B次元官网网址渁 rise of populist right-wing forcesB次元官网网址� is occurring in most democracies.

B次元官网网址淚t is of concern to see political parties choosing to instrumental anger, fear, division anxiety,B次元官网网址� he told reporters in Quebec City.

B次元官网网址淢y approach has always been to respond to it, to understand it and to look to solve it,B次元官网网址� he said, arguing Canadians would prefer that approach B次元官网网址渞ather than just allow themselves to have their anger amplified, without any solutions offered.B次元官网网址�

The Conservatives have repeatedly argued that rising frustration in Canada is the result of Liberal policies that they say have caused economic problems.

Hurrelmann also noted that the results of the French election could put strains on CanadaB次元官网网址檚 free-trade deal with the European Union. In March, FranceB次元官网网址檚 senate rejected the agreement that has been provisionally in force since 2017, while a handful of other countries have yet to fully implement the deal.

CanadaB次元官网网址檚 ambassador to the EU, Ailish Campbell, said last month that the provisional implementation has worked well, and she suggested signing that same deal today might not be possible due to rising protectionism in Europe in recent years.

B次元官网网址淚t was incredibly prescient that we concluded this agreement when we did,B次元官网网址� she told the Senate foreign-affairs committee on May 30.

B次元官网网址淭his is the EUB次元官网网址檚 homework as to how they ratify this agreement, and they should take however much time they need to get this process right, because the agreement is really working well.B次元官网网址�

READ ALSO: Fiery right-wing populist wins ArgentinaB次元官网网址檚 presidency amid economic woes