![\"\"](\"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2.39835189.jpg\")
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and other EU leaders have discussed concerns about potential external interference in the 2019 European elections.<\/p>\nTaoiseach Leo Varadkar and other EU leaders have discussed concerns about potential external interference in the 2019 European elections.<\/p>\n
Mr Varadkar warned a European Parliament \u201cfull of nationalists, populists and extremists\u201d could bring some of its work to a halt.<\/p>\n
It warned the matter is a \u201cserious issue\u201d that leaders \u201cneed to be across\u201d.<\/p>\n
Allegations have been made that both Russian and Chinese hackers may have attempted to influence the 2016 United States presidential election which saw Donald Trump defeat Hillary Clinton.<\/p>\n
Mr Varadkar did not specify where the external interference he spoke of might come from, instead saying it could come from \u201cmany sources\u201d.<\/p>\n
The next election to the European Parliament is set to take place at the end of May 2019, following the United Kingdom\u2019s planned exit from the European Union in March.<\/p>\n
The number of MEPs elected is expected to decrease from 751 to 705 following Brexit.<\/p>\n
The poll is likely to be watched carefully across the world following political turbulence in a number of the current EU 28 member states.<\/p>\n
That is something as EU leaders we are quite concerned with, we discussed it in Brussels earlier in December<\/p>\n
Mr Varadkar said the concern about potential interference in the election was discussed by EU leaders recently.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would certainly be concerned about external interference in European elections, it can come from many sources, I wouldn\u2019t particularly hone in on any particular source,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do know there has been election interference in quite a number of elections and protest movements and so on.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is something as EU leaders we are quite concerned with, we discussed it in Brussels earlier in December.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Varadkar described the potential of external interference as a \u201creal risk\u201d, but said there is no easy remedy.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat people can\u2019t come up with is an easy solution as to what you actually do about it other than notifying it and calling it out and saying it is happening,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEuropean elections tend to be low turnout elections, people often use them as an opportunity to register a protest and they are very vulnerable to interference and external actors.<\/p>\n
\u201cBear in mind the EU Parliament is a very powerful institution.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we had a parliament full of nationalists, populists and extremists it could bring a lot of the work we do in Europe to a halt, so it is serious issue and one we need to be across.\u201d<\/p>\n