Brussels briefing, Jan. 6

As of January, Croatia took over the European Council's rotating presidency from Finland. From now on members of the Croatian government will chair the reunions of the EU’s main decision-making body in Brussels and hold meetings at various levels.

NATO will convene on Monday in Brussels with the Middle East agenda to discuss the latest developments after the killing of Iranian top commander Qasem Soleimani in the U.S. airstrike.

The foreign ministers of EU member states are also expected to convene in Brussels this week to discuss the de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East and nuclear non-proliferation.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will visit London on Wednesday to meet with U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson to discuss the Brexit process. Von der Leyen will also deliver a speech at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Von der Leyen, together with the College of Commissioners, will hold official meetings within the framework of the beginning of the Croatian Presidency of the Council of the European Union on Thursday and Friday in Zagreb.