Former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has said he will be running for the European Parliament in May's election because he wants to fight for a more united European Union faithful to the vision of the bloc's founders.

Mr Berlusconi, 82, spoke at a weekend convention of his centre-right Forza Italia party, which has seen its popularity fall in recent years.

Italian voters have turned to parties on the right with anti-migrant and Eurosceptic messages, especially Italy’s League party.

The League governs Italy in a coalition with the populist 5-Star Movement.

Its leader, Matteo Salvini, who is also the country's hard-line interior minister, has been reaching out to nationalist parties beyond Italy in hopes that they can join forces and make gains in the European Parliament elections.

The far-right politicians winning power across Europe Show all 7 1 /7 The far-right politicians winning power across Europe The far-right politicians winning power across Europe Viktor Orban – Hungary, Fidesz The Prime Minister of Hungary has threatened to shut down NGOs that help refugees; run a state backed hate campaign against George Soros and removed constitutional checks and balances. He said: 'We have replaced a shipwrecked liberal democracy with a 21st century Christian democracy' Reuters The far-right politicians winning power across Europe Matteo Salvini – Italy, Lega The leader of Italy’s junior governing party has pledged to deport 500,000 irregular migrants; stated joining the euro was a mistake and wants to end sanctions against Russia. He said: 'The only antidote to racism is to control, regulate and limit immigration' AFP/Getty The far-right politicians winning power across Europe Heinz-Christian Strache – Austria, FPO The deputy prime minister of Austria wants to drive Islam out of public life in Austria; has threatening mosque closures and wants to end sanctions against Russia. He said: 'Let us put an end to this policy of Islamisation as soon as possible' AFP/Getty The far-right politicians winning power across Europe Marine Le Pen – France, Front National The runner-up in the French presidential election wants policies to favour ‘native’ French; has stated she would hold an EU referendum and wants to deport irregular migrants. She said: 'I’m not offended when I hear President Donald Trump say "America first". In fact, I want America first for the American people, I want Britain first for the British people and I want France first for the French people' AP The far-right politicians winning power across Europe Janez Jansa – Slovenia, Slovenian Democratic Party The leader of Slovenia’s largest party says the country is run by a secretive former communist cabal; has appointed political allies to press agencies and was sent to prison for alleged corruption which was later overturned by the Constitutional Court. He said: 'Our party puts Slovenia, Slovenians first' Reuters The far-right politicians winning power across Europe Alexander Gauland – Germany, AfD The leader of the first far-right party in the Bundestag in decades says Islam is not a part of Germany; wants a ban on public Islamic symbols and wants to leave the euro. He said: 'A German or English football team hasn’t been German or English in the classical sense for a long time' Alamy The far-right politicians winning power across Europe Jarosław Kaczynski – Poland, Law and Justice The chairman of Poland’s governing party says migrants spread infectious diseases; wants to ban gay people from being teachers and has sought to implement constitutional changes to give government more power over courts. He said: 'It is absolutely clear a homosexual should not be a teacher' Kacper Pempel/Reuters

The League’s aim is to halt the process of European integration and return more powers to national capitals.

On Saturday, Mr Berlusconi said that he, in contrast, wants Europe "to return to the project of the founding fathers, who wanted a much more united Europe, a Europe with only one foreign policy, with only one defence policy."

He said by uniting its militaries, Europe could become a "world military power" that could sit "with the other military powers at the table where the destiny of the world" is decided.

The three-time Italian premier, who has made a career out of rebounding from legal woes, personal scandal, heart trouble and political setbacks, first announced in January that he planned to run in the European elections.

Mr Berlusconi had been barred from running for public office for nearly five years due to a tax fraud conviction. Citing his good conduct, a court last year ruled that he could once again run.

He said that "even in [his] old age" he wants to work for change in Europe.

European Parliament elections run from 23-26 May in all EU nations.