SEPA Push for BiH: Bosnia and Herzegovina has officially applied to join the Single Euro Payments Area, with the central bank saying the process is now under review and could take at least six months for technical preparations before SEPA euro transfers start. Election Integrity Watch: Transparency International reports 26 election-legislation violations flagged in the first month of monitoring, citing abuse of public resources and premature campaigning, while noting the election commission has adjusted its sanction approach. Public Spending Ahead of Polls: A pre-election spending tracker shows 120 million BAM worth of infrastructure works launched in the past month, with 173 projects listed as the official start of construction. Disability Employment Funding: The Federation’s fund for professional rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities allocated a record 20.3 million BAM for 2026, including new eligibility for people with a certified 50% disability. Digital Governance Meeting: Acting High Representative Louis J. Crishock met IDDEEA BiH leadership in Banja Luka, focusing on digital public services, election readiness, and the need to respect court decisions. Regional IT Shift: Reporting from the region warns that “cheap labour” is no longer a growth advantage as foreign tech firms cut or close offices and ICT export growth slows. Heatwave Costs Across Europe: Italy issued a nationwide red heat alert for all monitored cities while Hungary switched off landmark lights to save energy, as wildfires and energy strain add to economic pressure.