EU Accession Pressure: Bulgaria’s President Iliana Iotova told North Macedonia’s President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova that Skopje must fulfil EU membership criteria, including constitutional changes tied to the 2022 “French proposal,” while EU Ambassador Michalis Rokas said the latest Macron–Merz non-paper doesn’t add new conditions—constitutional revisions remain the key prerequisite for talks. Foreign Policy & Rule of Law: Foreign Minister Timcho Mucunski, in Sofia at the SEECP summit, said the case of Bulgarian citizen Iva Mihailova—documents confiscated and travel blocked for medical treatment—falls under North Macedonia’s judiciary, and access to healthcare should not be linked to criminal proceedings. Regional Diplomacy: The SEECP 30th-anniversary summit in Sofia brought together regional leaders, with Bulgaria and then Romania taking rotating chair roles and prioritizing EU integration, resilience, and connectivity. Iran Condemnation: North Macedonia joined a 22-country statement warning Iran to stop “lethal plotting” and “malign actions” against dissidents, journalists, and Jewish/Israeli communities, including attacks claimed by HAYI. Domestic Politics (Language): VLEN and DUI/BDI traded accusations over Albanian language use in institutions and a 2010 Kumanovo document on Serbian, with the dispute resurfacing through a new case at the Institute of Public Health. Economy Watch: Reporting flags that North Macedonia’s investment push is increasingly tied to EU accession progress, as FDI fell sharply in 2025 and uncertainty may be weighing on new inflows.