SEECP Summit in Sofia: Bulgaria’s foreign minister opened a SEECP foreign ministers conference in Sofia, with North Macedonia’s President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova and Serbia’s PM Djuro Macut among the high-level participants, as the 30-year regional cooperation format pushes cooperation on security, EU integration and connectivity. Bilateral EU track: Siljanovska-Davkova said she will meet Bulgarian President Iliana Iotova during the summit to build trust and tackle “substantive issues,” while Bulgaria’s presidency priorities include EU enlargement support and resilience against hybrid and cyber threats. Iran condemnation: A coalition of 22 countries including North Macedonia issued a joint statement condemning Iran-linked “lethal plotting” and malign activities, calling for an immediate halt and targeting alleged IRGC-linked operations against dissidents, journalists and Jewish/Israeli communities. EU enlargement safeguards debate: Five EU member states proposed new safeguards for future entrants, including possible temporary limits on voting rights and tougher rule-of-law monitoring, as enlargement momentum grows and institutional paralysis fears rise. Energy security angle: The Energy Community’s 2026 gas storage report says supply security in the region is improving, with North Macedonia expected to secure gas via access to storage abroad. Public spending transparency row: A Skopje watchdog says the government is not disclosing costs and selection details for independence celebrations, fueling criticism over opaque public spending. Sports diplomacy: North Macedonia’s national teams featured in regional qualifiers and friendlies, including a reported 1–3 loss to Azerbaijan in women’s action.