EU Enlargement: Ukraine and Moldova are set to begin EU accession talks on 15 June, with the first negotiating cluster focused on rule of law and democratic governance after Hungary lifted its veto. Middle East Diplomacy: European leaders welcomed a US-Iran framework for a ceasefire, urging rapid implementation and the urgent reopening of the Strait of Hormuz with unrestricted freedom of navigation. EU Sanctions & Trade: A new EU Russia sanctions package could include entities based in India, raising uncertainty for an EU-India trade deal that both sides are trying to ratify. Digital Finance: The European Central Bank is convening a major Frankfurt conference on digital payments and tokenised markets, pushing the next steps for a digital euro and cross-border payment upgrades. Romania Governance: Romania approved a €140,000 contribution to the Regional Cooperation Council and signed into law its SAFE defence instrument framework to strengthen the defence industry. Tech Sovereignty: The EU Commission is reviewing the impact of Anthropic’s AI access restrictions for non-US users, warning that any response should not discriminate against partners. UK-Russia Enforcement: UK forces intercepted and boarded a sanctioned Russian shadow-fleet tanker in the English Channel, marking a UK-led operation. Payments Rollout: ACI Worldwide and the European Payments Initiative move to expand Wero instant payments across Europe.