Ceuta Migration Flashpoint: EU interior ministers backed Spain in “full solidarity” after tens of thousands of migrants surged into the Spanish enclave, saying the Schengen zone held and outlining a five-point plan to reinforce borders and tackle smuggling. EU Migration Politics: The row exposed deep splits over Pedro Sánchez’s approach, with open letters from 22 leaders and calls for tougher returns and anti-smuggling measures. Montenegro EU Accession & Migration: Prime Minister Milojko Spajić said Montenegro will reject any EU-financed migrant centre plan, after reports Italy may seek non-EU locations. Latvia–Belarus Border: Latvia restored operations at the Pāternieki crossing after technical issues, while officials stressed EU-wide solidarity and warned against granting illegal migrants legal status. Ukraine Defence Pressure: Zelenskyy condemned delays in anti-missile defences after Russian strikes killed 17 in Kyiv, urging EU and partners to step up interceptor deliveries. AI Sovereignty Debate: European leaders face renewed pressure to build independent AI capacity as U.S. access restrictions raise fears of dependence, with Mistral pitched as a potential contender. Climate & Water Stress: North Macedonia battled wildfires as drought deepened, while Europe’s heatwave continues to disrupt power, transport and river levels. Finance & Digital Assets: BlackRock launched tokenized money market fund access in Europe via JPMorgan’s Kinexys, targeting faster transfers and onchain visibility. Business Trade Talks: European business leaders urged Malaysia to pursue a high-quality EU-Malaysia FTA covering regulatory barriers, customs and investment conditions.