Should the EU commit to vaccinating 70% of adults by summer? Should there be certificates giving access to perks, such as travel freedom, to those who got the jab? Are more border-crossing restrictions necessary to tame the spread of the mutated virus? And is it appropriate to put political pressure on the EU's drugs regulator to approve vaccines faster? These are just some of the questions EU leaders will weigh during a video summit today. The answers aren't easy and a series of letters between them in the run-up to the call highlighted that a primary concern for many remains dodging blame for the bloc's failure to suppress a second wave and the underwhelming pace of inoculations. - Nikos Chrysoloras and John Ainger

What’s Happening

Fresh Start | Across the Atlantic, months of post-election uncertainty has ended with Joe Biden entering the White House, and reversing U.S. withdrawals from the World Health Organization and Paris Climate Agreement. We look at how the administration change may impact Europe and global trade in this week's Brussels Edition podcast.

Lagarde's Up | After boosting its pandemic bond-buying program by 500 billion euros last month, the European Central Bank is widely expected to keep its powder dry when it meets today. How members digest the economic situation, which is evolving quickly amid extended lockdowns and the slow start to vaccinations, will be key. Also keep an eye out for any comments from Christine Lagarde on Italy's political turmoil and the strong euro.

Lights Out | Has working from home during the pandemic meant your boss calls you at all hours or you're burning the midnight oil on your laptop? The European Parliament is trying to change that. Lawmakers are expected to back a call today urging the European Commission to propose new rules establishing the right for workers to switch off digital devices outside working hours.

Deadly Air | Madrid has the most premature deaths linked to nitrogen-dioxide pollution in Europe, while the Italian city of Brescia ranks worst in fatalities related to fine particulate matter, according to a new study. The news isn't much better for the rest of us: Some 84% of Europeans are exposed to pollution levels above World Health Organization guidelines.

In Case You Missed It

Merkel's Successor | Supporters of the man who may be Germany’s next leader raced to defend him after his unorthodox foreign policy views raised questions about his credentials to succeed Angela Merkel. From the Islamic State to Russia's invasion of Crimea, here's what he's said. 

Russia Visit | The EU’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, is set to announce that he'll travel to Moscow as early as February to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. That's despite at least five nations asking him to defer the trip following the arrest of opposition politician Alexey Navalny, according to a memo seen by Bloomberg.

Vaccine Push | India, which says it can increase vaccine production to 500 million doses per month for export, is fielding interest from countries, including Belgium, seeking access to cheap inoculations. The country says it has capacity to boost production of the AstraZeneca vaccine and an indigenously-produced shot.

Big Government | The pandemic has forced countries across Europe to ditch austerity and reawakened an interventionist impulse. Where and how will it end? Take a look here.

Chart of the Day

The future of Nord Stream 2 looks increasingly uncertain as the U.S. ramped up pressure on the project with new sanctions, and companies walked away from the controversial Russian gas link. The new sanctions come just days before work on the pipeline is scheduled to start in Danish waters. Questions now remain whether the link, owned by a unit of Gazprom PJSC, will see further delays as the U.S. tries to limit Russian influence in Europe.

Today’s Agenda (All times CET)

• 9:30 a.m. Council President Charles Michel receives Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili
• 11 a.m. Eurostat to release 3Q data on government debt and deficits
• 2:30 p.m. ECB Governing Council press conference following monetary policy meeting
• 6 p.m. EU leaders discuss their response to the pandemic, including the roll-out of vaccines and limiting the virus's spread
• MEPs are set to call for an EU law granting workers the right to disconnect digitally, without facing consequences from employers