EU to provisionally apply contested South America trade deal

European Union Chief Ursula von der Leyen said Friday that EU will implement a mammoth trade deal with the South American Mercosur bloc while waiting for a top court's ruling on its legality.

The European Commission's move came despite strong opposition from key power France. "The commission will now proceed with provisional application," von der Leyen said in Brussels, recalling that member states had given the EU executive power to do so. 

She hailed the ratification by the two South American countries as good news. Meanwhile, French Agriculture Minister said that she regretted the commission's decision adding that it was damaging to the functioning of their European institutions.