EU Energy Rules: The European Commission has launched infringement procedures against Bulgaria, Czechia and others over restrictive mandatory authorisation/certification schemes for energy-related installation and construction services, with a similar France case already under way. NATO & Defence Industry: At the Ankara summit, Trump said the US will license Ukraine to manufacture Patriot air-defence systems, while NATO leaders backed new procurements worth $50bn+ and pledged further support for Kyiv. Czech Security Context: Petr Pavel warned Ukraine has “two months” to restart peace talks before Russia’s post-election window shrinks, as mobilisation risk rises. Solar Supply Chain Shock: A new EU ban on PV inverters and power conversion systems from China is set to hit Central and Eastern Europe hardest, with Wood Mackenzie estimating up to 14% of 2026-2030 PV inverter demand (28 GWdc) at risk, including Czechia. AI Power Demand Push: Daewoo E&C is expanding into LNG, nuclear and SMR-linked energy infrastructure, betting AI data centres will drive demand for reliable electricity. Housing Pressure: Eurostat data show house prices and rents rising across the EU in early 2026, with Czechia among the faster movers. SMR Export Alliance: South Korea, the US and Japan agreed to cooperate on exporting small modular reactors, tying nuclear growth to rising electricity needs from AI.