French prosecutors seek electoral ban on Marine Le Pen
French prosecutors have requested that an appeals court uphold a five-year electoral ban on Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally, following her conviction for embezzling European Parliament funds. If granted, this ban would likely prevent her from running in the 2027 presidential election, where she had been polling as a frontrunner. Prosecutors also recommended a four-year prison sentence, with one year to be served at home, and a €100,000 fine, while the court is expected to make a final decision before the summer.
European Commission Proposes €58 Billion Annual Budget Plan
The European Commission is proposing a €58 billion annual budget plan to fund the next €2 trillion seven-year EU budget, primarily through new taxes on corporations, tobacco, and carbon emissions. However, an assessment by the European Court of Auditors indicates that only €6.8 billion from a proposed turnover-based tax on large companies and some customs changes would generate EU-level revenue directly, while the remaining €44.6 billion would still rely on national contributions. The plan faces significant political challenges, with member states expressing concerns over its impact on competitiveness and the effectiveness of the proposed levies.
European Commission Delays AI Guidelines Amid Criticism
The European Commission has missed the 2 February 2026 deadline for publishing draft guidelines on high-risk AI systems under the EU AI Act, with plans to release them later this month. This delay has drawn criticism from Renew lawmaker Michael McNamara, who described it as 'entirely unacceptable' and emphasized the need for adequate staffing of the AI Office to ensure effective enforcement. Meanwhile, the EU is also working to establish a framework for sharing defense data independently of US technology.
EU Parliament Defence Chair Calls for Increased Spending
The chair of the EU Parliament's defence committee is advocating for increased and concrete defence spending in the EU budget, signaling a potential confrontation with the European Commission. Meanwhile, Poland's leading defence contractor is calling for a consolidation of the EU's defence production to eliminate redundancies, highlighting ongoing discussions about the efficiency of military resources within the bloc.
Spain to Ban Social Media for Under-16s
Spain plans to ban social media access for children under 16, announced Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez at a summit in Dubai, aiming to protect young people from harmful online content. This initiative aligns with similar measures in countries like Australia, which has implemented a ban for users under 16, and France, which approved a bill restricting access for those under 15. Sánchez emphasized the need for effective age verification systems to enforce the ban, which will complement existing digital protection measures currently under parliamentary debate.
