Whether in Iraq, Libya, Yemen or Afghanistan, Europeans are not the global players that some would like to see. But the European Union embodies a vision of a peaceful, multilateral and law-based world. It must make the most of this asset to defend its interests and make itself indispensable, says Jean-Dominique Giuliani.

Former Prime Minister (2011-2016) Zoran Milanovic (SDP) won the second round of the presidential election held in Croatia on 5 January, beating outgoing President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, who was standing as an independent candidate with the support of the HDZ party. According to a final tally, Zoran Milanovic won 52.73% of the vote and Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic 47.27%.

The first edition of "Fabrique Défense", a forum on European defence organised by the French Ministry for the Armed Forces is taking place on 17th and 18th January in Paris. The Robert Schuman Foundation, one of the event's partners will be present.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in London on 8 January. In an earlier speech at the London School of Economics, she warned that negotiations on the future relationship between the Union and the UK after Brexit will be "tough" but that the Union will always be "a reliable friend and partner".

The opening ceremony of the Croatian Presidency of the Council took place on 9 January in Zagreb, in the presence of the College of Commissioners. The President of the Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the President of the European Council Charles Michel stressed the importance of the negotiations on the next multiannual budget and the various challenges such as climate transition. Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic stressed the importance for his country to move closer to joining the Schengen area and the euro zone. Croatia, the last country to join the Union in 2013, holds the six-month Presidency of the Council for the first time.

In a joint statement issued on 6 January, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemned the recent escalation of violence in Iraq following the death of Iranian General Soleimani in a US raid and called for an easing of tensions.

Christine Lagarde gave her first interview as President of the European Central Bank (ECB) to the French magazine Challenges on 8 January. In it, she defends the application of a fiscal stimulus plan in the euro zone to accelerate European GDP growth, which should reach 1.1% in 2020 and 1.4% in 2021 according to ECB projections, which remains below the European potential. She also expressed her wish to bring the ECB closer to Europe's citizens by establishing dialogue and explanations.

The number of irregular crossings of the European Union's external borders detected last year has fallen to its lowest level since 2013, due to the decrease in the number of people reaching the European coasts via the central and western Mediterranean Sea. Preliminary data for 2019 collected by Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, showed a 6% drop in the number of illegal crossings of the Union's external borders to just over 139 000. This figure is 92% below the record set in 2015.

In 8 January, the German Council of Ministers adopted the Migration Report 2018 presented by the Federal Ministry of the Interior. 1.59 million people arrived in the country in 2018, a figure equivalent to that of the previous year. However, the reasons for immigration have changed, as fewer people have come for humanitarian reasons, while the number of people coming to work or study has increased.

On 7 January, the new Austrian government was sworn in by President Alexander Van der Bellen. The government, which is the result of an unprecedented alliance between the People's Party (ÖVP) and the Greens (Grünen) and led by Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP), comprises more women than men (9 to 8). The Greens have four ministries including Environment and Justice. A firm and secure line on immigration and the goal of carbon neutrality by 2040 are the government's main objectives.

On 7 January, President Emmanuel Macron received the Croatian Prime Minister, Andrej Plenković, in Paris to discuss the priorities of the Croatian Presidency of the Council of the Union: Brexit, enlargement, multiannual financial framework and the Green Pact. Emmanuel Macron announced his intention to visit Croatia.

On 9 January, Pedro Sanchez, President of the Government (PSOE), was sworn in before King Felipe VI of Spain, after his investiture on 7 January by 167 votes to 165 in the Congress of Deputies, the lower house of Parliament. At the head of a coalition government, for the first time since 1975, with the radical left-wing party (Podemos), the government comprises 22 members, 11 of whom are women.

On 12 January, Robert Abela became the new Prime Minister of Malta following his election as leader of the Labour Party in replacement of Joseph Muscat. The son of former President George Abela, he won 57.9% of the party members' votes, beating Chris Fearne. Joseph Muscat had to resign following the investigation into the death of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, which revealed a link with some of his associates.

On 9 January, the House of Commons approved by 358 votes to 234 on third reading the agreement for the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union. The bill will now go through the House of Lords. Brexit will take place on 31 January, after ratification of the agreement by the European Parliament.

The European Union and Belarus signed a visa facilitation and readmission agreement on 8 January. Short-stay visa prices and issuing times will be reduced for Belarusian citizens coming to the EU. Several categories of persons, including students, will be able to benefit from multi-entry visas. Belarus has already granted facilities for EU citizens.

Northern Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev resigned on 3 January to prepare for the parliamentary elections which he has convened for 12 April following the European Union's refusal to open accession negotiations. His Interior Minister, Oliver Spasovski, was given the task of heading a provisional government to manage day-to-day affairs.

On 8 January, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin officially inaugurated the TurkStream gas pipeline in Istanbul, which will bring gas extracted in Russia to Turkey and Europe.

The Council of Europe's Anti-Torture Committee (CPT) published a report on 9 January calling on Denmark to improve living conditions in two of its migrant detention camps, which it considers "unacceptable and prison-like". The report follows the Committee's visit to Denmark to ascertain whether the recommendations previously made in 2014 had been taken into account by the government.

Euro-zone annual inflation was estimated at 1.3% in December 2019 by Eurostat on 7 January. It was 1% in November. Food, alcohol and tobacco are the main components of this inflation, followed by services, industrial goods excluding energy and finally energy.

In a report on the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPRs) in third countries, published on 9 January, the Commission identifies 13 countries, including China, Turkey, Russia, Ukraine and Brazil, where the EU must act to reduce the level of economic damage suffered by European companies. In particular, the report notes that more than 80% of counterfeit and pirated goods seized by EU customs authorities come from China and Hong Kong.

Until 21 March, the Patinoire Royale/Galerie Valérie Bach in Brussels is hosting "American Women, the infinite journey", an exhibition bringing together the works of 16 American women working on women's issues.