The right-wing surge in EU Parliament could have implications for Europe and beyond

Populist, far-right parties could have a bigger hand in European policymaking over the next five years after initial results from the EU election on Sunday suggested the parliamentary landscape is being redrawn.

Gains for the nationalist Identity and Democracy (ID) party — and losses for the Greens/European Free Alliance — could leave centrist parties dependent on the right for key votes in the 720 seat European Parliament.

The Parliament has, in the past, been led by a strong majority of centrist parties, who typically vote together on issues to win a majority in the 720 seat chamber. Indeed, the center-right European People's Party (EPP) is once again projected to win the most parliamentary seats and retain its dominance in the chamber.

But a centrist coalition led by the EPP might now depend on support from the right-wing European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) to pass certain legislation, with research firm Eurasia Group describing the ECR in a pre-election note as potential "key players."

Meanwhile, an emboldened ID party could apply pressure on Parliament to alter its stance on other contentious issues.

Armida van Rij, a senior research fellow for the Europe Programme at the Chatham House thinktank who was speaking before the results, told CNBC that the influence of the far right was "already being felt" in the EU, but that it could result in further policy shifts and "back pedaling" in the new Parliament.

Here's a look at how these shifts could impact EU policy.

Immigration will remain front and center of the policy agenda in the next Parliament, with right-wing parties expected to advocate for increased border security and a tougher stance on arrivals from outside the EU.

Implementation will remain a key sticking