EPTEFD is the smallest actual group in the parliament with 34 MEPs. The main parties in the group are United Kingdom Independence Party from United Kingdom with 10 members, Lega Nord from Italy with 8 members and United Poland with 4 members. It is by far the least cohesive group in the parliament with only 49,4 % cohesion and the lowest average participation in voting sessions.
Just like ECR, they were formed after last election to the parliament.
The political group has only 4 main topics:
1. The group wants a european cooperation, but it should not be a european superstate.
2. The group opposes legislation that would create more European integration and strenghten the central power of EU.
3. A call for the power to increase bordercontrol for all European countries to “protect history, traditions and cultural values“.
4. Anything that doesn't fall into those categories specifically will be up to each representative to vote as he or she sees fit.
To be clear, they explicitly denounce xenophobia, anti-semitism and other forms of discrimination as well as making it clear that the parties are all for freedom and democracy. Several of the parties are considered right-wing to far right-wing, but they are not associated with more nationalistic non-grouped parties like Jobbik from Hungary, British Democratic Party from United Kingdom, Front National from France and others.
Stats:
Leader: Nigel Farage (United Kingdom Independence Party, United Kingdom)
MEPs: 33
Average participation (voting): 78.4 %
Vote cohesion (since last election): 49,4 %
Most cohesion on (committee topic) : Internal Regulations of the EP (72,7 %)
Worst cohesion on (committee topic): Culture and Education (39 %)
Least towing of party line: Lithuanian Partija Tvarka ir teisingumas
Sources:
http://www.efdgroup.eu/about-us/who-we-are/charter.html
http://www.votewatch.eu/#tabs-1
