European Union in January 2026: the most important developments in politics
The European Union's politics in January 2026 centered on Greenland and relations with the United States. After President Donald Trump renewed his interest in acquiring the island, the EU, France, Germany and Britain voiced support for Greenland and Denmark. On 14 January Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Greenland could count on the EU, though the bloc declined to confirm whether its mutual defence clause applies there. On 17 and 18 January Trump threatened tariffs on countries opposing his plans; EU envoys met in emergency session, and an emergency summit followed in Brussels on 22 January. On 23 January von der Leyen described the episode as a moment where Europe stood firm, while EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said transatlantic ties had taken "a big blow".
Ukraine was the second theme. At Davos on 21 January Trump said NATO and the EU, not the United States, should handle the war. On 27 January Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine expects to join the EU in 2027; Hungary's foreign minister said Budapest will not allow it, and on 29 January Chancellor Friedrich Merz rejected a fast-track accession and a fixed timeline. On 30 January the EU rejected Zelensky's proposal for a European army. Kallas said Vladimir Putin must make concessions before direct talks can begin.
On Iran, the European Parliament banned Iranian diplomats from its buildings on 12 January over the crackdown on protests, and several member states summoned Iranian ambassadors. On 29 January Kallas announced that the EU will designate Iran's Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organisation. Iranian officials condemned the decision, and a senior security official said Iran now considers the armies of EU states to be terrorist organisations.
Elsewhere, the European Parliament sent the EU-Mercosur trade agreement to the EU's top court on 21 January and on 22 January rejected a censure motion against von der Leyen. Kallas said the EU could work with the US-proposed Board of Peace only if it focuses on Gaza. On 29 January the EU and Vietnam raised their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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