EU Tech Crackdown: The European Commission has formally charged Meta over “addictive” Instagram and Facebook design, targeting infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications and personalized feeds, with potential fines above €12bn and demands to rebuild core mechanics. Road Safety Rules: From July 7, 2026, the EU’s advanced driver distraction warning system becomes mandatory for all new cars and vans, with rules on how long drivers can look away before warnings escalate. Heat and Wildfires: Western Europe is facing its hottest June on record, driving surging demand for cooling and worsening fire risk; Greece is also deploying space-based satellite monitoring to spot wildfires earlier. Energy Security and Shipping: With tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, Europe is weighing proposals for voluntary navigation service fees, while a drone attack on a Qatari LNG tanker underlines how fast fuel routes can destabilise. Climate and Industry: Germany’s 2045 climate neutrality target is under pressure as leaders debate whether it hurts competitiveness. EU Global Gateway: A €5m EU-backed energy connectivity project launched in South Asia aims to link power markets across Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Local Development: Egypt says four EU-supported local projects are about 25% complete, focused on markets, agriculture services and industrial upgrades.