European trade policy seen going greener after EU parliament vote

A man reads newspaper headlines showing the results of European and local elections in Athens, Greece, May 27, 2019. REUTERS/Costas Baltas

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The rise of the Greens, the "Greta effect" of a young Swedish climate activist and the entry of French President Emmanuel Macron's party into the European Parliament are likely to result in a more defensive and climate-oriented EU trade policy.

Sunday's European election saw the traditional conservative and socialist parties that have long run the European Union lose dozens of seats each. Between them, they can no longer form a majority, making them more reliant to pass European laws on support from liberal and Green blocs that both made gains.