Eurotopics.net

An appeal court has upheld the conviction of French far-right leader Marine Le Pen for embezzlement of EU funds. However, the ban on holding public office has been reduced, which allows her to run for president in the 2027 election. Two years of her three-year prison sentence have been suspended. For the remaining year, she will be required to wear an electronic ankle tag. Le Pen intends to appeal the decision and has said she will run for president "without a tag".

The leaders of the Nato member states have convened in Ankara. Ukrainian President Voldomyr Zelensky was among the guests and reaffirmed his country's desire to join the alliance. In view of the many challenges Nato faces, commentators take a positive view of the results of the meeting so far.

Turkey is pulling out all the stops as host of the Nato summit in Ankara. The reception for Donald Trump was particularly lavish. The US President had previously hinted that he was attending the summit solely because of his 'friend' Erdoğan. The media take it as a cue to assess the role Turkey plays for both the US and Europe.

The British far-right populist Nigel Farage has announced his resignation as MP in the House of Commons after coming under pressure for not disclosing millions of pounds worth of gifts. Farage, however, does not see the move as an admission of guilt – announcing that he will be standing again in his constituency's by-election.

The European Commission plans to amend the rules on the admission of Ukrainian war refugees from spring 2027, and has proposed that Ukrainian men of military age who arrive in the EU should no longer be automatically entitled to protection, although they would retain the right to apply for asylum. In Ukraine, military-age men are subject to an exit ban.