EU Enlargement: Albania is formally closing its first three EU membership chapters in Brussels (science, education, foreign relations), with talks also advancing for Ukraine, Moldova and Montenegro as the bloc targets full Albanian talks by 2027 and accession by 2030. Armenia-EU Security: The EU officially launches a new Partnership Mission in Armenia to help strengthen resilience and institutional capacity against hybrid threats, with a roundtable bringing together Armenia’s MFA and EEAS leadership. Ukraine Accession & Defence: Ukraine’s accession process is moving without “obstacles” as the EU opens Cluster 6 (External Relations) talks for Moldova and Ukraine’s next negotiating steps are discussed; meanwhile, allies at the “Coalition of the Willing” in Paris pledge more air defence and exercises, while Ukraine and nine partners launch the FREYJA anti-ballistic missile programme. Russia Sanctions & Cyber: The European Public Prosecutor opens criminal proceedings over Agrofert subsidies, and the UK and EU roll out joint cyber sanctions over an alleged FSB attack that could have hit Poland’s power grid, alongside continued deadlock on the 21st Russia sanctions package. Middle East & Trade: EU foreign ministers debate options to restrict trade with illegal Israeli settlements; the EU also pledges €900m for Gaza reconstruction/early recovery. Digital Rights: noyb urges an orderly EU withdrawal from the US privacy transfer framework after a US Supreme Court ruling, while EU moves toward age-based social media limits for children under 13. Hungary Politics: Hungary’s parliament advances constitutional changes to oust an Orbán-era president, deepening EU rule-of-law tensions.