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Europe Today: EU leaders meet in Brussels to discuss Davos, Trump, and Greenland
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READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2026/01/22/europe-today-eu-leaders-meet-in-brussels-to-discuss-davos-trump-and-greenland
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Tune in to Euronews' new flagship morning programme, Europe Today, at 8 am Brussels time. In just 15 minutes, we bring you up to speed on the biggest news of the day.
READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2026/01/22/europe-today-eu-leaders-meet-in-brussels-to-discuss-davos-trump-and-greenland
Subscribe to our channel. Euronews is available on Dailymotion in 12 languages
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00:00Good morning, it is Thursday the 22nd of January. I'm Maeve McMahon and this is Europe Today.
00:21Your daily dose of European news and analysis live here on Euronews.
00:26Coming up today, deals in Davos. US President Donald Trump will no longer proceed with a plan to impose tariffs on eight European countries.
00:36The decision comes after a rollercoaster day in Davos and talks with the NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
00:42Europeans are relieved for now but also aware that underlying issues remain.
00:46Euronews' EU editor Maria Tadeo was in the packed room listening to President Donald Trump deliver that speech yesterday at the World Economic Forum
00:54and joins us now from the Swiss village. Good morning, Maria.
00:58So, tariffs off the table for now. Why and can we trust this deal?
01:05Well, yes, Maeve. Good morning. And we were indeed yesterday.
01:09We waited for almost two hours for the speech from President Trump.
01:12Of course, it was the most anticipated intervention here at the World Economic Forum.
01:17And now, as for the tariffs, yes, the President of the U.S. overnight said the 10% tariff,
01:23which was supposed to go into effect on the 1st of February, will no longer be effective.
01:28And that is because he claims that he has a deal with NATO and the NATO Secretary General to change the security around Greenland.
01:37Now, a lot of the deals and a lot of the details around this framework are yet to be seen,
01:42but we understand it includes a number of points that the U.S. believed were important.
01:46And that means that there could be potentially more space and capabilities for U.S. troops to be placed and stationed in Greenland,
01:54which, of course, belongs to Denmark, greater European commitments for security in the Arctic, and more U.S. investments.
02:00Of course, a lot of this is still up in the air.
02:03It does not change the Danish position that they will not talk about sovereignty,
02:07but it does seem that there's been a de-escalation through NATO and the NATO Secretary General.
02:11So the tariffs will not be going into effect.
02:14Some de-escalation in the language, too.
02:17So, OK, the speech, not as aggressive, Maria, as anticipated,
02:20but the U.S. president still sounds very determined to get Greenland.
02:24We can just take a listen now to an excerpt from Donald Trump's 72-minute speech.
02:29We never ask for anything, and we never get anything.
02:32We probably won't get anything unless I decide to use excessive strength and force,
02:37where we would be, frankly, unstoppable.
02:41But I won't do that.
02:45OK?
02:45Now everyone's saying, oh, good.
02:48That's probably the biggest statement I made, because people thought I would use force.
02:53I don't have to use force.
02:54I don't want to use force.
02:55I won't use force.
02:55All the United States is asking for is a place called Greenland.
03:01Donald Trump there.
03:02So, Maria, relief, of course, that President Donald Trump will not use force.
03:06What have the reactions been?
03:07Well, yes, Mav, and I was on the floor at the World Economic Forum when he delivered that speech.
03:15And that one-liner, we will not take it militarily, that was really the highlight of the speech.
03:20And it was perceived as, again, a ramp-off for de-escalation, which, of course, materialized hours later.
03:25But we should stress, of course, that concern from the Europeans is very much present.
03:30There was a fury that was very palpable.
03:33We did see Christine Lagarde walking out of a dinner in which a U.S. representative spoke in terms that were seen as unacceptable.
03:39And, of course, this has created a real dent.
03:42A lot of that perhaps explaining why the U.S. felt they needed to take a step back,
03:45including, by the way, bipartisan criticism here in Davos, saying this was crazy.
03:50Okay, Maria Tadeo, thank you so much for that update.
03:53And another topic in focus in Davos today is the ongoing war in Ukraine.
03:57Our Maria Tadeo, who we just saw, had the chance to speak to Marta Koss, the EU Commissioner for Enlargement.
04:02Take a look.
04:04Commissioner, thank you so much for joining us on Euronews.
04:07You will be meeting with the Ukrainian president, but also a number of instrumental partners,
04:13including, if I'm not mistaken, BlackRock, too, for the reconstruction of this country.
04:17What do you hope to get out of the meetings?
04:19We hope that we could gather, first, the agreement on the importance of the enlargement process
04:25and economic development for the prosperity and also security of Ukraine.
04:31I'm happy that we have been able to come to the agreement on the so-called prosperity paper,
04:36which is somehow a framework defining how to develop Ukraine after the peace or in the future.
04:45And we have done this together with the U.S., Ukraine, and the European Commission.
04:50One of the most important points for the future of Ukraine is reconstruction.
04:55We can only be successful if we will bring private capital, but we will not be able to bring private capital in
05:03if we will not make the conditions, the business conditions, so that the investors will feel safe.
05:09And BlackRock is a big name. BlackRock can't change things.
05:11Indeed. And, you know, the European Union is not enough. State money or EU money is not enough.
05:18We desperately need also private engagement.
05:22And out of the talks I have had until now in Davos, I can see the interest is very big.
05:28But, of course, everybody would like to end the war as soon as possible.
05:31And, of course, there was a lot of speculation in the days prior as to whether or not President Zelensky would be here.
05:36It looks like he is going to be. He also did say, I'm going to Davos for something specific.
05:41What can you or what can he get out of the meetings that will happen today specifically in details?
05:47For me, the most important point is here getting the assurance that there is the interest for Ukraine
05:55or helping Ukraine or developing Ukraine is big.
05:59You know, sometimes we think just in the political terms, but we should go into the economic terms.
06:05And the economic terms means that we need investments for the prosperity and for the security.
06:14As you know, there's been a lot of speculation, also rumors in the press that the European Union will be prepared now to offer Ukraine
06:22what is called a sort of membership light and also do it fast.
06:26Some say even by 2030. Are you working?
06:28Is this something now that you're open to saying, yes, we need to put a date on when Ukraine joins?
06:34We know that this date, January the 1st, 2027, is apparently still in the 20 points of the peace plan.
06:44I don't know what will be the end version of this document, but we have to be ready.
06:49And, you know, I'm always saying in these challenging times, we have to think out of the box in the times when there is no box.
06:56Even in a year, in 2027, it's right around the corner. Some would say that would destroy enlargement if that happens.
07:01With the present methodology, this is not possible. And, of course, we have to get a green light for our member states.
07:06We have to discuss a lot what needs to be done in future.
07:12But, you know, it is generally, when we speak about enlargement, it is not just about bringing the countries into the EU.
07:18It is making us stronger. In the past, we have been able to answer to big challenges, like the end of the dictatorship in Spain, Portugal, Greece, and then we took those countries in.
07:30The end of the Berlin War or Cold War, we have been, for the first time, able to bring the communist countries in.
07:36So, now it is, again, a big challenge. It has proved the history that we are able to deliver.
07:43I'm optimistic that we will deliver.
07:45Commissioner Matakos, thank you very much for joining us.
07:47A pleasure.
07:50Martha Kost there with our EU News Editor, Maria Tadeo.
07:53Well, the US President, Donald Trump, hugged all the headlines at this year's World Economic Forum, even before his arrival.
08:01The red carpet was also rolled out for him all across the snow.
08:05Our Jakob Janis takes a look at whether this year's World Economic Forum was a one-man show.
08:09This year, the world's biggest conference was adapted to fit one man, and he kept the world waiting.
08:19An electrical fault forced Presidential Air Force One to make a U-turn meet flights.
08:25But once he finally landed, his gravity did not just change the mood, it changed the schedule.
08:34Hundreds of CEOs and leaders reshuffled their agendas, prioritizing access over the official program.
08:41And Trump is now accompanied by a record-breaking delegation.
08:45Five cabinet secretaries, senior advisors and support staff, constituent the largest American contingent in the event's history and the security marches.
08:56Five thousand Swiss soldiers are deployed to Davos for this week.
09:01Mobile phone signals flicker wherever he goes.
09:05But this comes at a cost.
09:07Ukraine was supposed to be the event's headline.
09:10But a massive $800 billion prosperity plan between Ukraine, Europe and the US is delayed for now.
09:18President Zelensky found his message competing for airtime with a territorial dispute over Greenland.
09:26In previous years, Davos was more of a platform for two-way dialogue.
09:32But this year, it felt more like a listening exercise to Donald Trump's rumbling speech.
09:38So as the private jets leave the Swiss Alps, the EU goes home with a new reality.
09:44And yes, we hear your comments on social media saying that we talk too much about him.
09:50It is true, but it is now or never for the EU to figure out how not to be eclipsed in Donald's world.
09:59And that's what EU leaders are hoping to figure out tonight over emergency talks here in Brussels.
10:09For more on the reactions to the Davos deal and also to look ahead to tonight's summit,
10:13I'm joined now in the studio by your news' Shona Murray.
10:17Shona, bring us up to speed here.
10:18Well, Maeve, I'd say for the first time in days, EU leaders had a good night's sleep,
10:21as did the people of Greenland for at least one night after this announcement from Trump last night.
10:26Now, we did report on Tuesday that there was potentially an off-ramp in Davos,
10:30and that seems to have materialised.
10:32We don't know the full details of this framework agreed with Trump, NATO, Denmark, Greenland,
10:37but it appears to protect the territorial integrity of Greenland, of Denmark as well.
10:42But at the same time, EU leaders are still meeting for that emergency summit.
10:45That's still going ahead because there are other things to talk about.
10:47Transatlantic relationships, the Mercosur deal,
10:50which we know the Parliament has sent to the European Court of Justice,
10:53and this controversial Gaza Peace Board.
10:55So they will meet this evening and discuss the last few days,
10:59which have been pretty, you know, hot-headed.
11:01But I think everyone will agree that they can breathe a bit of a sigh of relief momentarily.
11:05Indeed, but lots to chew over right now for the European Union.
11:08Of course, that EU-Mercosur deal will be on the table tonight too,
11:11after that European Parliament vote just yesterday.
11:15Well, we had also, for another view, the chance to sit down with Jean-Claude Juncker,
11:18that is the former Commission President.
11:20I started by asking him what he thought of President Trump's speech in Davos.
11:25I was expecting a more aggressive tone.
11:28It was less aggressive than it was pre-announced.
11:31But nevertheless, it was like it was.
11:35But it was quite strong on Greenland, right?
11:38I mean, he said he wants to start immediate negotiations to acquire Greenland.
11:43He said, all I am asking for is a piece of ice.
11:46It means diplomacy now is not working.
11:49Whatever he said, one thing is remaining sure.
11:54If a NATO ally attacks or threatens another NATO ally,
12:00this is inaugurating a process at the end of which we could witness a breakdown of NATO.
12:10It's something impossible.
12:11And tell me, you know Donald Trump.
12:14Yes.
12:14So what should the Europeans do?
12:17We know Ursula von der Leyen, she left Davos to go to Strasbourg.
12:20Should she not have flown back to Davos to have that opportunity to speak to Trump?
12:24Would she have done so?
12:26She would have had a few minutes of talks with the President of the US.
12:33That wouldn't make sense.
12:34We don't have to be there where the President does want to be.
12:40If you were the Commission President now, what would you be doing faced with all these threats?
12:43I would clearly explain to the American President that we are ready to respond in a proportionate but strong manner to the threats he is spreading around.
12:59That the European Union cannot be submitted to a kind of colonial, neo-colonial behavior.
13:08That the European Union has its own honor and is respecting the US, but is not a slave of the United States of America.
13:19He knows that, but he doesn't take this into account, at least not publicly.
13:24And would he listen to you?
13:26I don't think that he is for the time being in a very listening mode.
13:32It has become more and more difficult to talk to him in a friendly manner.
13:39And tonight, of course, Thursday, EU leaders are meeting for an emergency summit in Brussels.
13:43How should they react?
13:45With diplomacy and dialogue with Donald Trump or with more punitive measures?
13:50Diplomacy is always the best way to deal with problems of this kind.
13:55But the European Union has to make clear to him, the President and others in the world, that we are ready to defend the European interests.
14:07OK. Jean-Claude Juncker, former Commission President, thank you so much for joining us.
14:10Thank you. It was my pleasure.
14:13Well, that brings this edition of Europe Today to an end.
14:18For more news on Davos, the EU summit tonight, or the votes that took place yesterday on Mercasur over in the Parliament,
14:24do visit our website, euronews.com.
14:26We'll have live blogs running all day and night.
14:28But thank you so much for tuning in.
14:30See you very soon here on Euronews.
14:32Euronews.
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