European security

France’s Neighbors Sound Alarm Over Election ‘Catastrophe’ Risk

Leaders in Spain and Germany voiced concern that the Europe Union faces collapse as a result of anti-establishment forces campaigning to tear down the bloc, singling out their common neighbor France as the potential trigger.

Europe’s unprecedented electoral calendar, with ballots this year in France, the Netherlands and Germany -- plus possibly in Italy -- presents the continent’s “enemies” with the chance to wreck the EU, according to German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, a Social Democrat. He cited Brexit’s cheerleaders among the bloc’s foes.