From 21 to 23 January, Justice and Home Affairs Ministers met in Nicosia to discuss how coordinated action by the EU and partnerships with third countries could improve overall results in terms of returns and strengthen the credibility of the EU's migration system. They emphasised the role of national practices and future EU information systems in enabling more targeted and better coordinated action, in full compliance with fundamental rights and the Schengen acquis. They discussed the need to strengthen asset recovery in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing financial landscape. They reiterated that 'following the money' remains one of the most effective tools for combating organised crime. Finally, they examined whether further Union action could lead to more effective cross-border restitution of cultural goods that have been unlawfully removed.

Until 17 May, an exhibition dedicated to the works on paper by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat is on display at the Louisiana Museum in Copenhagen. The first comprehensive retrospective dedicated to the artist's representations of the human head, it includes many works that were kept secret during his lifetime, ranging from drawings to oil paintings on paper, mainly produced between 1981 and 1983.

Until 24 May, the exhibition 'Martin Parr. Global Warning' is on display at the Jeu de Paume in Paris. It offers a retrospective of the British photographer's work through various series produced from the late 1970s to the present day. From his early days in the British Isles to his explorations across five continents, Martin Parr explores the turpitudes of our time with some 180 works divided into five sections.

Until 21 June, an exhibition entitled Metaphysics is being held at the Palazzo Reale in Milan. 400 works are on display, including paintings, sculptures, photographs, drawings, design objects, and plastic and architectural models.

From 28 January to 1 February, the Cité des Congrès in Nantes will host a unique classical music festival, 'La Folle Journée'. Created in 1995 with the aim of democratising this art form and making it accessible to as wide an audience as possible, it offers more than 270 concerts involving nearly 2,000 artists. The closing concert will be broadcast on the ARTE channel.

The 8th edition of the Contemporary Art Festival in Vilnius is being held every weekend until 1 March. More than 50 contemporary art contributions are on display, including galleries, museums, exhibitions and outdoor art. The initiative aims to promote culture while offering activities for citizens and tourists during the winter months.

On 22 January, Keir Starmer, the British Prime Minister, welcomed his Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen to Chequers. They discussed the importance of security in the Arctic for NATO and the need to strengthen cooperation between their two countries and within Europe on security matters, in particular by developing interoperability between military forces. They also discussed the war in Ukraine, the situation in Gaza and the issue of migration.

On 19 January, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen and Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt to Brussels to highlight the strategic importance of the Arctic and the island. Troels Lund Poulsen, and Greenland's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vivian Motzfeldt, in Brussels to highlight the strategic importance of the Arctic and the island to the collective security of the Atlantic Alliance. With the region attracting increased geopolitical attention, the Allies renewed their commitment to strengthen presence and deterrence in the High North by stepping up investments in essential defence and surveillance capabilities, while exploring the possible establishment of a NATO mission in the Arctic. This meeting illustrates the joint commitment to preserving peace, stability and the shared interests of member countries in the face of contemporary security challenges.

On 22 January, the Joint Commission on Missing Persons met for the first time in Brussels. Its objective is to oversee the implementation of the Declaration on Missing Persons, adopted in May 2023, which aims to help shed light on the fate of missing persons and promote lasting reconciliation and peace.

On 22 January, European Union leaders met to discuss transatlantic relations and their implications for the European Union. European Council President António Costa confirmed that Denmark and Greenland had the full support of the European Union and reiterated the Union's commitment to international law. He welcomed Donald Trump's reversal on new US tariffs on certain European countries and stressed that the EU was ready to work with the US on implementing the comprehensive peace plan for Gaza.

On 22 and 23 January, the European Commission made the fourth payment of €175.4 million to Denmark and gave a positive assessment of the eighth payment request of €1.1 billion to Portugal under NextGenerationEU. Details of the recovery plan are available on the Foundation's website.

Europe stands as the last bastion against a coalition of autocrats that is converging, from Moscow to Beijing and including certain illiberal tendencies in the United States, to weaken democracies. As recent tensions over Greenland have reminded us, Europe is founded on law, peaceful cooperation and the protection of individual freedoms. It embodies a unique moral and economic power capable of challenging the ambitions of authoritarian regimes. By asserting its historical values and consolidating its strategic credibility, the European Union can continue to offer a civilising alternative based on reason, respect for rights and stability, in the face of forces seeking to reshape the world through force or intimidation.

On 23 January, a German-Italian intergovernmental summit was held in Rome, attended by Giorgia Meloni, President of the Italian Council of Ministers, and Friedrich Merz, German Chancellor. An agreement on strengthening cooperation in security, defence and resilience and an Italian-German action plan for bilateral and EU strategic cooperation were signed, highlighting their commitment to preserving peace in Europe. This meeting followed the German-Italian Economic Forum, held on the same day, during which the two heads of government stressed the importance of strengthening European competitiveness, in particular through increased cooperation between their economies.

On 22 January, the European Central Bank and the European Systemic Risk Board published a joint report on the dangers of geo-economic fragmentation. The institutions warn that global political instability could lead to tighter financial conditions and weaken economic growth within the European Union. The study reveals that geopolitical shocks are prompting banks to limit their lending, thereby reducing international diversification despite increased protection against external risks. To address these uncertainties, the authors recommend the adoption of a new supervisory framework and better harmonisation of statistical data.

On 23 January, the European Commission sent 447 emergency power generators to Ukraine, worth €3.7 million, from the EU's strategic reserves. The aim is to restore power to hospitals, shelters and essential services. They will be distributed to the most affected communities by the Ukrainian Ministry of Community and Territorial Development, in cooperation with the Ukrainian Red Cross.

On 25 January, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda and Polish President Karol Nawrocki met in Vilnius, Lithuania, to strengthen cooperation within the Lublin Triangle and emphasise the crucial strategic importance of continued European support in the face of Russian attacks, particularly in order to consolidate Ukraine's energy resilience and defence. Among the most active partners, Lithuania and Poland reiterated their political, financial and military commitment and their determination to maintain this support until a dignified and lasting peace is established, fully guaranteeing Ukraine's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.