EU Accession Pressure: The European Parliament adopted its 2025 progress report on North Macedonia, backing Skopje’s EU bid but stressing constitutional changes needed to open the first negotiating cluster, while keeping language on the Bulgaria–North Macedonia historical commission. Bulgaria Dispute Escalates: Bulgarian MEPs used the Strasbourg debate to argue Skopje cannot join the EU without Sofia’s support and to condemn “anti-Bulgarian hatred,” after an arson attack on Bulgarian embassy vehicles in Skopje triggered fresh diplomatic and EU-level reactions. Constitutional Gatekeeping: Bulgarian MEPs and EU lawmakers tied the stalled talks to constitutional revisions, with warnings against blaming Bulgaria for the EU standstill. Diplomatic Security Row: Bulgaria summoned North Macedonia’s charge d’affaires in Sofia over the embassy arson; the French Embassy also condemned the attack and urged trust-building. Disinformation Warning: North Macedonia’s deputy foreign minister told EU counterparts that intensified disinformation and hybrid influence linked to an “eastern neighbour” threatens democratic trust, especially around elections. EU Enlargement Context: North Macedonia’s President said the Western Balkans are “far ahead” of Ukraine and Moldova on the EU path, calling for mechanisms to stop identity and historical blocks. EU Asylum Focus: A civil society report for the 2026 enlargement package assessed asylum and forced displacement alignment in North Macedonia and other candidate states.