The European construction, while still in an incomplete stage, is facing a triple wave of extremism, populism and nationalism. Although this is not unprecedented, its scale invites concern, as do the breaches of referenda procedures, and how close certain parties have come to power in several countries. And this has been the case even though movements have not engendered any great upheaval in policy or in European institutions. These bodies have demonstrated their resilience and proved to be more robust than expected.