Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets across Germany to protest against nationalism. The rallies come ahead of this week's European Parliament election and aim to encourage people to unite and vote. CGTN's Natalie Carney reports from Munich.

This week, citizens across 28 European Union states will vote for their next parliament. With far right nationalist parties gaining momentum, these protesters say there's no time to lose.

CLAUDIA ROTH VICE PRESIDENT, GERMAN PARLIAMENT "It is really a danger, a threat that extreme right parties get very strong minority in the parliament and then they get the chance to block, to do anything against the European perspective. Every single vote is important. It is important!"

Many Europeans are concerned that nationalist parties like the far-right Alternative for Germany will use electoral success to promote an anti-Europe agenda like the one Brexit supporters spread in the UK. Germany elects 96 parliamentarians to send to the 751 seat European Parliament, the most of any single country, yet a recent survey showed that 45 percent of Germans do not know any of the nine top European Parliament election candidates. From Berlin to Frankfurt to Munich and from German politicians to bikers to grandmothers, the number of protesters across Germany in support of an inclusive Europe reached tens of thousands.

RENATE FOIGT "I have a grandchild, we all have grandchildren here, and it's important for them and for you all that nationalism does not spread. And I hope more and more people will take to the streets to say stop!"

HANS AFFOLTER "Europe should be more democratic, more free, more open and more right-based."

Demonstrations also took place in other European countries like Austria, Italy, Spain and Sweden.

CHRISTIAN TENGBLAD "What we want to do is to get all the energy from the social movements of Europe, like the climate movement, the youth strikers, the anti-racists and to get this energy into European politics as well because we need to hold the politicians accountable for their actions, and I think we can do that by having strong social movements."

That "strong social movement" may be wrapping up and the stage might be coming down, but the campaigning for an inclusive Europe for all is far from over.

NATALIE CARNEY MUNICH GERMANY "These demonstrations across major German cities come just a day after nationalist Austrian Vice-Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache resigned over allegations he was open to corruption. This led German Chancellor Angela Merkel as well as other leading German politicians to urge voters not to follow Austria's example by allowing far-right politicians into positions of power."

Yet with less than a week to go, polls are indicating that far right, nationalist groups could take a third of MEP seats, highlighting the very real challenges the European Parliament will have to contend with over the next five years. Natalie Carney, CGTN, Munich, Germany.