GETTY Front National leader Marine Le Pen has warned the EU is crumbling

FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again. SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again. We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

The leader of France's Front National (FN) said two of the main "pillars" of the 28-country bloc - the Schengen zone and the euro - are "crumbling" despite billions of euros being spent to stop the structure from falling. Ms Le Pen said: “I believe that the European Union is in the process of collapsing on itself for one simple reason. The two pillars on which it’s founded – Schengen and the euro – are in the process of crumbling. “So they’re in a sort of mad downward spiral in which they’re capable of anything today to try and keep this building standing.”

Related articles UK population could rise by 5 MILLION unless we leave EU, says Gove

The European Union is in the process of collapsing on itself Marine Le Pen

The French politician believes the EU's collapse is not a matter of "if" but "when", saying the club "shines from the light of a dead star" while its leaders struggle to keep the union together "at the cost of billions". Europe's Schengen zone enabling free movement has come under increasing pressure as countries reimpose border control in reaction to the migrant crisis. The eurozone has also come under strain, with the monetary union continuing to bail out Greece and other countries such as Italy and Spain are increasingly struggling.

GETTY Le Pen's Front National has had a surge in popularity

Even France's economy is suffering, with chronic unemployment double the level in the UK. Ms Pen also spoke about Brussels' recent move to fine EU members who refuse to take in their fair share of refugees.

The Eurosceptic far-right leader said: “The threat of condemnation of countries which do not accept migrants – a €250,000 fine for each migrant not taken in – is in itself revealing." She said the threats and blackmail used systematically by the European Union is above all a gigantic problem of weakness." The European Commission unveiled plans earlier in May to impose a penalty of around €250,000 per rejected refugee on countries that refuse to share the burden of Europe’s migrant crisis.

GETTY Front National supporters at a demonstration on May Day

Ms Pen also accused the EU of using migrants as a tool to drive down labour costs across the 28-country bloc. The politician said: "That’s why the European Union supports tens of millions of immigrants in the coming years which will come onto the European Union labor market to push down wages. “So, in fact they have betrayed, if you like, the working class.”

GETTY Ms Pen wants France to leave the EU