EU Enlargement Push: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, with France and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, backs a plan to fast-track Western Balkans entry, including early single-market access and curbs on veto use. Migration Clash in Europe: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used the D-Day anniversary to warn that “different European beaches” are being “stormed” by “dangerous ideologies,” echoing Trump-era migration rhetoric and drawing fresh friction with European governments. Bosnia Governance Tension: A US-European dispute over Bosnia’s next High Representative has exposed widening transatlantic splits and raised fears about the future functioning of the OHR. Italy Politics Watch: Italy’s far-right National Future doubled its MPs to eight after defections, positioning itself as a potential spoiler ahead of the 2027 election. Border Delays for Travelers: IATA warns the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) could mean queues of up to six hours at some European airports this summer, with Italy among countries already reporting disruption. Rome’s Hidden Past: Students and heritage teams have uncovered a major 2nd-century Roman domus beneath a Rome school gym, adding to the city’s ongoing archaeology boom. World Cup Footnote: FIFA says it will collect items after every 2026 match for future documentation, continuing its long-running memorabilia project.