Switzerland agreed Monday (15 January) to a request by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to host a peace summit of world leaders on ending Russia's full-scale invasion -- but without inviting Moscow.

The German SPD announced on Monday evening (15 January) that it would support Nicolas Schmit as the Part of European Socialists (PES) lead candidate for the EU elections, making it all but certain that the Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights will become the primary challenger of current Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU has circulated a new draft text of the platform work directive, which should be the basis for technical negotiations among member states on Tuesday (16 January), amid persistent divisions about the directive's scope.