EU Migration Crackdown: The European Parliament backed an overhaul of return rules, voting 418-218 for faster deportations and allowing detention up to 24 months, with critics warning safeguards for asylum seekers are being weakened. EU Parliament, Hardline Tone: The same session saw chants of “send them back” as lawmakers approved the deportation package, while Italy’s Giorgia Meloni called it a historic win. EU-Russia Diplomacy: An EU official says European Council chief Antonio Costa has made “brief contacts” with the Kremlin to open communication channels, with no substance discussed, as leaders weigh whether the EU should play a role in Ukraine talks. EU-China Trade Tensions: Brussels is preparing for a tougher China strategy as the EU’s trade deficit grows, raising fears of a trade war and possible new protective measures. Ukraine Accession Politics: Coverage highlights how Ukraine’s EU path is moving from declarations to negotiations, but still hinges on political will across member states. Genomics Policy: MEPs adopted new rules for new genomic techniques, splitting plants into NGT-1 (treated like conventional) and NGT-2 (kept under stricter GMO rules). Turkey Pushback: Turkey rejected an EU Parliament report urging sanctions on its justice minister, calling it biased. Armenia’s Pivot: Armenia’s post-election direction is described as moving toward Europe while managing close ties with Russia. Defense Industry Reality Check: At Eurosatory, optimism is tempered by reports that the FCAS sixth-generation fighter project has effectively collapsed as Germany and France grow deadlocked.