KYIV. Feb 28 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Co-Chairman of the Board of the Heinrich Boell Foundation (Berlin) Ralf Fuecks believes the presidential election in France will be a serious challenge for the entire European Union.

"Indeed, this is not just France election, this is the election of the further fate of the European Union. This election is the future of Europe. If Marine Le Pen wins, it will be a blow to the European Union," he said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Tuesday.

However, Le Pen is unlikely to win, the expert said. "I think she won't win the runoff election. I think that the European integration of France will not experience such a blow," Fuecks said.

He also said the current crisis has become a serious challenge for the European Union. "We cannot leave the battlefield to the right-wing populists. I think that the current crisis will unite and mobilize the pro-European forces," the expert said.