Bilateral Diplomacy & Security: Russia’s Lavrov says envoys from the UK, France and Germany have requested talks with a deputy after an E3 London summit pushed demands for Ukraine ceasefire negotiations. EU Enlargement: Commissioner Marta Kos maps accession progress with “chapter” milestones as Ireland prepares to prioritise enlargement during its EU Presidency, while Bulgaria presses North Macedonia to meet EU criteria including constitutional changes. Regional Balkan Cooperation: Bulgaria hosted SEECP’s 30th anniversary summit in Sofia, with leaders focusing on connectivity (including Corridor VIII), defence cooperation and EU integration momentum. Defence & Rearmament: Bulgaria approved a plan to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, while Germany moves to build a new sixth-generation fighter after FCAS collapse. Energy & Industry: Bulgaria approved an electricity compensation scheme for energy-intensive consumers and a Council-backed amendment to its Recovery and Resilience Plan to meet the August 31, 2026 deadline. Climate & Markets: EU co-legislators agreed stronger price controls for ETS2, and the ECB is expected to hike rates as energy-driven inflation pressures build. Tech Sovereignty: Qualinx and GlobalFoundries say they’ve completed an all-European secure semiconductor manufacturing flow for security-critical chips. Public Opinion: An ECFR poll finds only 11% of Europeans view the US as an ally, driving support for more European defence autonomy.