Incumbent Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was re-elected in the first round of the presidential election on 24 January with 60.7% of the vote. He easily outstripped Ana Gomes, a socialist candidate not supported by her party (12.97% of the vote) and André Ventura, leader of the populist Chega party (11.9%). The other four candidates received under 5% of the vote. In the midst of the Covid-19 epidemic, turnout totalled 39.49%, the lowest level ever recorded for a presidential election.

The Foundation, in partnership with the Institut Catholique of Paris, organised a videoconference on 10 January on the occasion of the inauguration of the new President of the United States, Joe Biden, with Pierre Vimont, French Ambassador, and Simon Serfaty, Professor Emeritus and member of the Foundation's Scientific Committee. The entire debat, together with Simon Serfaty's study, are available online.

Meeting by videoconference on 21 January, the Heads of State and Government discussed the challenges posed by the second wave of Covid-19. They stressed the importance of accelerating the vaccination campaign and limiting non-essential travel while keeping the Union's internal borders open. They also called on the Council to work on an interoperable form of proof of vaccination. The leaders also called on Russia to release opposition leader Alexei Navalny immediately.

On 25 January, the Commission recommended that Member States require travellers to present a negative PCR test within 72 hours before travelling. It calls for non-essential travel to and from high-risk areas to be strongly discouraged and calls for the development of a Common European Passenger Name Record (PNR) form that might be demanded of travellers arriving in the EU. The Commission also suggests a fourth colour, dark red, in the common colour code to reflect the high circulation of the virus when the notification rate is above 500 cases per 100 000 inhabitants over 14 days. On 19 January, the Commission called on member countries to vaccinate at least 80% of the elderly and 80% of health or social service professionals by March, and at least 70% of the adult population by the summer. It stresses the need to improve screening and sequencing of the virus genome to better trace it. It calls for non-essential travel to be "strongly discouraged", while preserving the single market and free movement.

On 19 January MEPs adopted new rules allowing the EU to use countermeasures in trade disputes when arbitration is blocked. They will allow the EU to take action provided it obtains a favourable ruling from the World Trade Organisation (WTO) dispute settlement body. The regulation still needs to be formally adopted by the Council.

The 27 Ministers for the Economy and Finance met on 19 January to discuss the establishment of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (€672.5 billion), which is due to be activated at the end of February, after validation by the Council and Parliament. The ministers discussed the Commission's proposal on non-performing loans, the European semester 2021 and the programme of the Portuguese Presidency.

At the third meeting of the EU-Cuba Council, held on 20 January, the High Representative, Josep Borrell, met the Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bruno Rodríguez, to discuss economic and institutional reforms in Cuba, the US embargo on the island, human rights, sustainable development and the pre-agreement between the EU and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries reached last December.

The European Central Bank decided on 21 January to leave interest rates unchanged. ECB President Christine Lagarde said that the Emergency Pandemic Procurement Programme (EPPP), which continues at a monthly rate of €20 billion, will be adapted to the economic situation if necessary. She noted that inflation is expected to rise in the euro zone due to the suspension of VAT in Germany and the rise in energy prices, without reflecting a real recovery in demand. She called for a rapid launch of the €750 billion recovery plan.

At the annual conference of the European Investment Bank (EIB) on 20 January, its president Werner Hoyer welcomed an investment of €76.8 billion for the EIB and the European Investment Fund (EIF), 13% of which was outside the Union. 40% of the loans were intended for SMEs, followed by environmental projects (22%), infrastructure (20%) and innovation (19%). In total, more than 425,000 businesses received financing, while the top three recipients were Italy (15.5%), France (14%) and Spain (11%).

The cooperation agreement signed between Europol and the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) in December came into force on 19 January. The European Public Prosecutor's Office, a new independent body responsible for investigating, prosecuting and judging crimes affecting the EU's financial interests, will become operational later this year. Cooperation with Europol will take the form of information exchange on specialist knowledge or criminal investigation procedures and participation in training activities.

The Franco-German Parliamentary Assembly met on 22 January for a virtual plenary session devoted to the joint management of a way out of the crisis and innovation in the European Union. During the session, the German transport minister, Andreas Scheuer, spoke on cross-border mobility. The Franco-German Parliamentary Assembly, comprising 50 French and 50 German MPs, was established on 11 March 2019.

On 24 January, the Reform Party (ER) and the Centre Party (EK) reached an agreement to form a government headed by a woman, Kaja Kallas (ER). The coalition's programme gives priority to the fight against Covid-19 and the strengthening of the healthcare system. The new government is to be confirmed by a vote of confidence in Parliament, where the two parties have a majority of 59 of 101 seats.

On 16 January, almost a year and a half after the announcement of the merger of the automotive groups PSA (Peugeot, Citroën, Opel, etc.) and FCA (Fiat, Chrysler, Alfa Romeo, etc.), the Stellantis group was officially born. With 14 brands, 400,000 employees and a turnover of €167 billion, the new group went public on 18 January. Its managing director, Carlos Tavares, gave a press conference on the 19 January regarding the group's strategy.

On 25 January the Greek government and Dassault Aviation signed contracts for the purchase by Greece of 18 Rafale fighter aircraft and their armament, as well as logistical support and training. Greece will receive 12 second-hand and 6 new aircraft between now and 2023. The order, worth 2.5 billion euros, was approved by the Greek Parliament on 14 January.

On 19 January, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte won a vote of confidence in the Senate, after having won the confidence of the Chamber of Deputies the day before, thereby saving his government. By winning 156 votes, however, he lost his absolute majority in the Senate (161 votes). This was due to the abstention of 16 Senators of Italia Viva, the party of former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

In a judgment delivered on 19 January, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled against Turkey for violation of the rights to freedom of expression and to liberty and security, guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights. The Court found that there was no evidence to prove the veracity of the terrorist-related offences with which Atilla Taş, a singer and satirical columnist who had criticised government policies, was charged.

In a study on the economic situation in France published on 19 January, the IMF estimates that the GDP contracted by 9% in 2020 but that it should increase by 5.5% in 2021. It stresses that the government's response has enabled a reduction in the effects of the pandemic on employment but that it is essential to monitor the evolution of the public deficit and debt, which rose from 98.1% of GDP in 2019 to 115.3% in 2020. The report welcomes France's €100 billion recovery plan and encourages the government to prioritise the green and digital transition and the training of low-skilled workers.

Inflation in the EU stood at 0.3% in December, according to final Eurostat figures released on 20 January. Annual inflation was -0.3% in the euro area.

Until the ''Black & White'' exhibition opens, featuring more than 200 photographs from the collections of the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, the Grand Palais in Paris is offering an online exhibition of videos, texts, images and games. A film presents personal accounts by photographers such as William Klein, Man Ray and Valérie Belin. Three artists also offer their views on the artwork on display.