European Parliament elections need EU reform: David Cameron

British Prime Minister David Cameron on Monday said the turnout and results in the European Parliament (EP) elections underlined the need for reforming the European Union (EU), urging European leaders to show that the EU cannot be "business as usual."

Cameron made the remarks in a set of planned phone calls to his European counterparts, including the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, Slovenian Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek and Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny, ahead of the informal European Council in Brussels on Tuesday.

"The PM has been making the point in these conversations that leaders should seize the opportunity of tomorrow's dinner to head the views expressed at the ballot box that the EU needs to change and to show it cannot be business as usual," a Downing Street spokesperson said Monday following the phone calls.

"The turnout and results in the EP elections have underlined the need for reform to ensure that the EU is doing more to deliver what voters care about: jobs, growth and a better future," the spokesperson added.

This year's European EP elections have seen a multitude of anti-EU right-wing and far-right political parties rising quickly in popular support across Europe, reflecting a surge of Eurosceptic sentiments throughout the continent.

In Britain, the right-wing UK Independence Party (UKIP), which strives for Britain's withdrawal from the EU, has won 27.5 percent of the votes and beat all the other traditional mainstream parties for the first time in a national election, according to election results announced by Monday evening.

The leaders have agreed that it is an important moment for the European Council to set out its view on the future of the EU and provide clear direction of what is expected from the next European Commission, the spokesperson noted.

Cameron agreed with the other leaders that Tuesday's meeting is just the start of the process of appointing the next President of the European Commission, and there will need to be more consultation in the coming months.

In the phone calls, the British prime minister also discussed the Ukraine situation with his European counterparts, reiterating the need for the EU to continue to support the Ukrainian government as it embarks on the "tough, but necessary reforms".

Cameron is expected to speak to more European leaders on Tuesday morning before heading to Brussels, according to the spokesperson.