The Latest | Europeans go to the polls on the final day of voting for EU elections

Voters across the European Union will go to the polls on the final day of European parliamentary elections to elect their representatives for the next five-year term.

Polls opened in 20 EU countries early Sunday for June 6-9 elections for a new European Parliament, the legislative branch of the 27-member bloc.

Hundreds of millions of Europeans voted this week in one of the the greatest world democratic events.Far-right parties They seek to gain more power amid a rising cost of living and farmer discontent, while wars in Gaza and Ukraine are also key issues weighing on voters’ minds.

The economy, employment, poverty and social exclusion, public health, climate change and the future of Europe are also prominent issues.

No official results are expected before the last polling stations close in the 27 EU countries on Sunday evening.

At the moment:

— An assault on the Danish prime minister is the latest in a recent wave of political violence in Europe

— Italy’s far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni tells traditional EU centrist parties that their time is up

— What is at stake: AP explainer about how it works and the main problems

— Overwhelmed by the elections? A guide for the key races to watch

Here’s the latest:

WARSAW, Poland – Poles are voting at a time of great insecurity for the nation, which sits along the eastern flank of both the European Union and NATO.

The war just across the border in Ukraine has raised fears that if Russia prevailed, Poland and neighboring nations once under Moscow’s control could be next targeted.

A migration crisis is also unfolding along another stretch of the eastern border with Belarus. Poland accuses Belarus and Russia of attracting large numbers of migrants to the border to create instability. The crisis has been deadly: a migrant recently stabbed a Polish soldier to death. Since 2021, dozens of migrants, if not more, have also died in the swamp forest area.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk has emphasized national security and promised to strengthen border controls as he seeks a strong performance for his centrist, pro-EU party.

On the minds of some Poles is the nature of the EU itself. In a nation under foreign rule for long periods in the past, some Poles fear the 27-member bloc is taking too much power away from individual nations.

“We know that the European Union is in crisis, so maybe our elections will change something in the decision-making and efficiency of this body,” said Anna Grzegorczyk-Łuczak, a 60-year-old architect who voted early in Warsaw. She did not want to say which party she voted for.

SOFIA, Bulgaria – Bulgarians elect a new parliament on Sunday while also taking part in European Union elections that have been overshadowed by domestic political instability and economic inequality, as well as growing concerns about war nearby. Ukraine.

They were Bulgaria’s sixth parliamentary elections in three years. There were concerns that voter fatigue and widespread disillusionment with politicians failing to deliver on their promises to combat corruption and introduce reforms could result in low turnout and another fragmented parliament.

Preliminary results of the vote for the 240 seats in the National Assembly and the 17 members of the European Parliament are expected on Monday.

The favorites in the National Assembly elections were considered to be the center-right GERB party, led by three-time Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, and the reformist coalition Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria.

After competing head-to-head in elections last July, the two rival groups attempted to break the political deadlock by forming an uneasy governing coalition, but it survived only nine months.