EU Standardisation Overhaul: The European Commission has proposed modernising the EU standards system to speed up development, strengthen SME representation, and keep rules aligned with fast-moving tech and clean-tech needs. EU Budget Tax Split: A new EU-wide poll finds Europeans almost evenly divided on new taxes to fund the 2028–2034 budget—support is stronger in Italy and Spain, but weaker in Germany, Poland and France. Spain Election Freezes AI Plans: Spain’s snap election has put its housing legislation on ice and legally frozen its newly launched EU-linked AI governance agenda. Spain Invoice Rules Delayed: Spain has postponed Verifactu e-invoicing (tax control) to 2027 and later 2028, giving SMEs more time but also more uncertainty over technical requirements. SME Cashflow Pressure: SMEs are pushing for stronger late-payment protections as cashflow strains bite. UK SME Tech Push: UK tech SMEs are using the Labour Party conference to press for practical support, with a focus on AI and innovation. Energy Costs Hit Operators: Italy’s transport sector warns rising diesel prices could hurt the economy, while UK manufacturers are offered new schemes to cut energy bills. Business Tech & Cyber: OpenAI’s “rogue agents” controversy is raising fresh concerns about automated systems and public internet strain. Digital Identity Business Models: A webinar on the EUDI Wallet highlights near-term opportunities for cutting verification costs and embedding credentials into existing services.