Energy Infrastructure: Greece, North Macedonia and Serbia signed on the sidelines of the 10th Southeast Europe Energy Forum to extend the Vertical Gas Corridor, with NOMAGAS and Serbia’s Transportgas joining the network and committing to coordinated development, bidirectional capacity and cross-border operations. Energy Market Reform: North Macedonia asked MEMO to prepare a plan to set up a natural gas market operator, covering organisational, technical, IT, legal and financial steps, as the country pushes ahead with gas interconnectors to Greece and Serbia. Cross-Border Projects: A separate report says a North Macedonia–Serbia gas interconnector contract has been signed, reinforcing the push to connect landlocked markets to new supply routes. Finance & Risk: Hungary opened a criminal investigation into Eximbank deals, including a controversial €1bn loan to North Macedonia, after document seizures and an internal audit flagged alleged abuse of office and mismanagement. Labour & Industry: North Macedonia is increasingly hiring foreign workers despite high registered unemployment, with demand concentrated in manufacturing, construction, and accommodation/food services. Defence Industry: A North Macedonia ammo maker, Demirovski/ATS, is described as competing with Serbia’s Prvi Partizan, amid ongoing legal scrutiny in Serbia. Ukraine Reconstruction Diplomacy: Ukraine’s FM Sybiha thanked North Macedonia for appointing a special representative for postwar reconstruction.