Daily brief
EU leaders are meeting in Cyprus for an informal summit focused on the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, with discussions also covering the Iran nuclear issue and the Middle East. The summit, which notably excludes Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has seen European Council President Charles Michel give an interview to Euronews. Ukraine's EU membership decision has been postponed, and President Zelenskyy rejected what he called 'symbolic' membership.
EU foreign policy chief Kallas responded to US criticism of the bloc, while the US and EU deepened cooperation on critical minerals.
Gibraltar’s chief minister and a former Brexit official both said Britain should rejoin the EU.
The EU anti-fraud office is investigating former UK ambassador Mandelson over fraud allegations.
Iceland has set a course toward EU membership, while the EU may cut funds if Serbia suppresses university autonomy.