Coronavirus: Europe

About the project

Since its emergence, the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has spread rapidly across the globe. Health systems are straining under an overwhelming demand and a lack of infrastructure and personal protection equipment, while the global economy has taken a severe hit as social distancing and self-quarantine strategies interrupt daily life and prevent commerce.

Europe has become the center of the pandemic as the number of cases grow exponentially across the continent. Given Europe’s complex overlap of governance structures, debates over the needs of Member States versus the jurisdictions of the European Union rage as the situation on the ground worsens. After a rocky start, however, European nations have begun to work together, both at national and EU levels. Will Europe be able to sustain its cooperative measures, or will individual countries peel off looking for independent solutions? What is the role of the EU in a public health crisis, traditionally the remit of Member States? How will a European Commission dedicated to developing a geopolitically-focused EU interact with its neighbors and rivals in this time of crisis, and how will it impact the international system after the virus abates?

This series from the Atlantic Council’s Future Europe Initiative aims to follow these questions by tracking developments in key countries across the continent, and adding expert commentary across topical themes.

Featured events

European democracy in a time of COVID-19: A conversation with Věra Jourová

Amidst the pandemic, Věra Jourová, European Commission Vice-President for Values and Transparency, shares her perspective on how European democracy is handling simultaneous stress tests – from emergency public health measures, coordination across Member States, postponed elections, and an influx of misinformation and disinformation.

European solidarity in the COVID-19 crisis

Italian and Spanish leaders tasked with managing EU affairs outline the coordinated efforts of the EU and its Member States and reflect on the lessons learned from this crisis and what it means for European solidarity after the pandemic.

Featured commentary

New Atlanticist May 29, 2020

Italian, Spanish diplomats stress EU solidarity in wake of COVID-19 economic response

By Larry Luxner

Top officials from Italy and Spain—the two European Union member states hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic—praised the EU’s May 27 announcement of a €750 billion ($826.5 billion) recovery program to rescue the bloc from its worst economic crisis in its history.

Coronavirus Eurozone

New Atlanticist Apr 3, 2020

COVID-19 in the Western Balkans

By Dimitar Bechev

COVID-19 overshadowed two major developments in the region: the EU decision to open membership talks with North Macedonia and Albania, as well as North Macedonia’s formal accession to NATO on March 27. In normal circumstances, this would have been huge news. Yet now the pandemic leaves little bandwidth for other matters, even in the Western Balkans.

Coronavirus Democratic Transitions

New Atlanticist Mar 31, 2020

Europe’s economic emergency is also a geopolitical one

By Benjamin Haddad and Josh Lipsky

European leaders are deciding the future of European power on the world stage. If Europeans can’t ensure solidarity with each other after so much pain and sacrifice, it will not only be a devastating loss for Europe. It will also be a blow to a world looking for the political shape of a post-coronavirus world.

Coronavirus European Union