Far-right parties made significant gains in the European Parliament elections as centrist and center-left parties in France and Germany suffered stunning defeats on Sunday, according to exit polls.

But the center-right European People's Party picked up five seats, which was good news for party member and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who's seeking a second term, according to Reuters.

"We are the anchor of stability," von der Leyen boasted to cheering supporters at the EPP's election night event in Brussels.

The environmentalist Greens were expected to lose 20 seats and fall to sixth position in the Parliament, according to the Associated Press.

The results could make it harder for the European Union to adopt new law and could potentially paralyze decision-making in the world's biggest trading bloc, AP noted.

EU lawmakers, who serve five year terms in the 720-seat Parliament, control a budget that pays for infrastructure projects, farm subsidies and aid to Ukraine.

They have a say regarding policies affecting finance and efforts to stem climate change, and can also veto appointments to the EU's powerful commission.