Early data suggests that the far right has made significant gains in EU elections while the center right maintains a majority.

• Early exit polls on Sunday showed that populist, far-right parties received unprecedented support in this year's European Parliament elections.
• The ECR experienced a slight increase in votes, while the ID party gained significantly.
• The EPP is predicted to secure the most parliamentary seats with a slightly increased majority.

Early exit polls on Sunday showed that populist, far-right parties received unprecedented support in this year's European Parliament elections.

At 8:30 p.m. local time, the EU released its first official projection, showing that the far-right Identity and Democracy (ID) group made significant gains, while the right-wing European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) experienced a slight increase in votes.

The EPP is predicted to secure the most parliamentary seats with a slightly larger majority than previously.

The projection is based on exit polls, national estimates, and pre-election polling data, and is a four-day, EU-wide vote.

Both the Renew Europe (RE) and the Greens/European Free Alliance are predicted to lose a substantial number of seats.

Across the 27 member states of the EU, over 400 million individuals were eligible to cast their vote for the upcoming European Parliament, which is one of the three key institutions within the EU.

The European Parliament, which is the only directly elected institution within the EU, is responsible for making EU laws and setting the budget. It is made up of MEPs who are elected by each member state and form European party groups.

This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.