国际英语新闻:European elections results show most voters prefer European integration: Portugal FM

LISBON, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva here on Monday praised the outcome of the European elections, saying that it showed most voters are in favor of European integration.

"The results of the European elections showed once again that the vast majority (of the voters) are in favor of European integration and have voted in pro-European parties," Santos Silva said after a meeting with his Dutch counterpart Stef Blok.

He said that the main result of the European elections was "the reinforcement of the pro-European parties, which together account for about two thirds of the total number of MEPs."

"It was a good result," he said.

Despite fears of rising anti-Europe parties, "we have come to see another significant victory for those who believe that European integration is our common future," he said, adding that less than 120 seats to the far right forces means a defeat for them.

The vote to elect the new 751-member EU assembly was held in each of the 28 EU current member states between May 23 and May 26, with 427 million eligible voters across the continent.

The foreign minister said that it would be "very interesting" to follow the dynamics among the European parties.

"It will be a very interesting political momentum, both in the European Council and in the European Parliament," said Santos Silva.

However, "in the European Parliament, the interaction between conservatives, social democrats, liberals and 'greens' will be necessary," he said.

During their talks, the two top diplomats discussed the outcome of the European elections and other European issues such as the financial framework, the Brexit and climate change.

Stef Blok tweeted that they "emphasized the need of a focused EU that delivers on the big challenges facing us".