Lawmakers urge cutting EU funds for eurosceptics, taking aim at Le Pen and UKIP

Members of the European Parliament take part in a voting session in Strasbourg, France, February 14, 2017. REUTERS/Vincent Kessler

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Eurosceptic parties should not get European Union funds, the head of the largest group in the European Parliament proposed on Tuesday, a move that would strip parties like France's National Front and the UK Independence Party of millions of euros.

Euroscepticism is growing across the continent, alarming the continent's mainstream political parties, with the anti-EU forces looking set to win significant shares of the vote in Dutch elections on Wednesday and France's presidential election in April. Cutting their financial support would be one way to reduce their clout.