EU's Tusk warns of hostile, foreign-funded parties ahead of vote

European Council President Donald Tusk called on voters across the continent to reject anti-European parties he said had been set up by hostile foreign forces and could try to use upcoming EU parliamentary elections to seize influence in Brussels.

Tusk, a center-right former Polish prime minister who chairs summits of EU leaders, gave one of the starkest warnings yet from the bloc about the prospect that openly anti-EU parties could gain ground in May's European Parliament election.

"There are external anti-European forces which are seeking - openly or secretly - to influence the democratic choices of the Europeans," Tusk told a news conference, naming the "Leave" result in Britain's 2016 Brexit referendum as one such example.

"And it may again be the case with the European Parliament election in May," he said. "Do not allow political parties that are founded...