Ceuta Migration Row: Spain’s PM Pedro Sánchez blamed Russia, Israel and far-right networks for disinformation that helped trigger the July surge into Ceuta, while ruling out Moroccan involvement and saying investigations continue as thousands remain stranded. EU Digital Rules: The European Commission designated ChatGPT as a “very large online search engine” and also classed Reddit and Roblox as “very large online platforms,” bringing the strictest Digital Services Act duties and audits from early 2027. Baltic Defence Deal: France and Sweden signed a €4.3bn contract for four Naval Group frigates to strengthen Baltic air and missile defence, with first delivery expected in 2030. Russia Shadow Fleet Crackdown: EU forces boarded a suspected “shadow fleet” tanker in the Mediterranean for flag verification, with Kaja Kallas calling illegal oil sales a lifeline for Russia’s war. G20 Friction: European finance ministers bristled at Russia’s presence at the G20 in Asheville, with Germany pushing for sanctions coordination and objecting to Russia being treated like a normal guest. Iceland EU Referendum Shock: Iceland voted against restarting EU accession talks, prompting calls for the bloc to become “more attractive” while leaving enlargement plans in limbo. Ukraine Partnering: Zelensky ordered an audit of political-level agreements with partners to ensure ministries and state firms deliver on defence and energy commitments. Tech for Research: EuroHPC signed a deal for the €387.8m LUMI-AI supercomputer in Finland, aimed at boosting European AI and research capacity.