European Union in January 2026: the most important developments in society
In the European Union in January 2026, the most reported social issue was farmers' opposition to the EU's trade deal with the South American bloc Mercosur. Farmers marched in several European countries on 13 January, and thousands protested again on 20 January ahead of a vote on the agreement. Separately, truck drivers blocked several EU border crossings in the Balkans over new EU regulations and competition rules, and the prime minister of North Macedonia called on the EU to resolve the issue.
On migration, Germany led a push during talks in Cyprus on 22 January to set up return hubs for migrants. The European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning Iran's treatment of protesters. Italian President Sergio Mattarella said the whole of the EU needs to address anti-Semitism rigorously, and a poll found EU citizens pessimistic about the future.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
Click a day in the chart above for that day's brief.