Eurotopics.net

The appeal trial against Marine Le Pen for embezzlement of EU funds begins in France today. In the first instance, the judges ruled that the presidential candidate of the far-right Rassemblement National (RN) is barred from standing for election for five years - including the 2027 presidential election. Commentators discuss what is at stake.

After more than 25 years of negotiations, the free trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur is close to being finalised after a qualified majority of EU ambassadors approved it on Friday, overruling countries like France and Poland. Now, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen can put her signature to it with the partners in South America, and then the EU Parliament must also vote on it.