UK SME costs and compliance: Ireland’s €3 customs duty for many low-value parcels from 1 July (ending the old de minimis relief) could raise checkout costs and add VAT complexity for cross-border e-commerce. UK banking access: The government’s “Access to Banking” review is gathering evidence on whether changes to face-to-face services are harming consumers, communities and businesses. AI adoption push (UK): A £200m UK package aims to speed AI uptake, including expanding BridgeAI, AI Growth Zones for local firms, and skills placements via Spärck AI Scholarships. London Tech Week momentum: New AI compute and infrastructure pledges include £400m for specialist chips, plus major industry commitments, with a targeted £12m programme to help London SMEs adopt AI. EU AI compliance clarity: Draft EU AI Act guidelines explain when systems are “high-risk,” a key trigger for heavy obligations that SMEs and start-ups need to plan for. Belgium AI uptake: Belgium reports 34.54% of businesses using AI (up from 24.71% in 2024), but small firms lag far behind large enterprises. Energy pressure on SMEs (Cyprus): An expected ECB rate hike could squeeze variable-rate borrowers, pushing small firms to delay investment and hiring. Clean transition support (Lithuania): The Commission endorsed Lithuania’s €884m Social Climate Plan to shield vulnerable households and small businesses from energy costs while funding renovations and micro-enterprise EV charging. France telecom shake-up: Bouygues, Iliad and Orange agreed a €20.35bn deal to acquire and split Altice France’s SFR, setting up a major regulatory test for consolidation.