COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — A senior member of a Danish anti-immigration populist party says he hopes a new right-wing alliance "can have real influence on European policy for the first time ever" before next month's European Parliament elections.

Soeren Espersen, deputy leader of the euroskeptic Danish People's Party, was referring to the April 8 creation of an alliance with populist parties from Italy, Denmark, Germany and Finland.

He said one of things that really matter to him and his party is stopping mass immigration.

Elections to the European Parliament are held May 23-26 throughout the bloc.

Espersen spoke Friday as France's Marine Le Pen, whose National Rally party is to join the alliance in May, was visiting.