EU–Western Balkans Diplomacy: European Council President António Costa kicks off a June 1–5 tour, stopping in Sarajevo, Tirana, Skopje, Pristina and Belgrade, then co-chairing the EU–Western Balkans Summit in Tivat on June 5—aimed at pushing enlargement, regional cooperation and security. EU Accession Pressure: In parallel, Bulgaria’s foreign minister tells Skopje not to seek conflict with Sofia and to fulfill EU commitments, warning the “open window” for enlargement should be used for progress. Corridor 10 Rail Plan: Serbia has published details for a high-speed double-track upgrade on Corridor 10 through North Macedonia, starting near Tabanovce, with environmental screening underway. Energy Interconnections: Serbia’s energy minister says new gas links with North Macedonia and Romania are planned within two years, alongside storage and network upgrades. Legal/Political Fallout: Reports say former PM Nikola Gruevski received Hungarian citizenship in 2022, while North Macedonia’s justice ministry says it has no confirmed information and extradition procedures continue. Press Freedom Watch: A new global ranking flags a 25-year low in press freedom, with North Macedonia listed among Europe’s poorer performers by broader economic context. Security & NATO: A major special forces exercise, Trojan Footprint 26, includes North Macedonia and focuses on interoperability and readiness across NATO allies. Language & Justice: Albanian-language bar exam protests in Skopje renew the fight over language rights versus the bar exam’s Macedonian-only rule.