Europe Center

Providing expertise and building communities to promote transatlantic leadership and a strong Europe in turbulent times.

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Featured commentary & analysis

The Europe Center uses real-time commentary and analysis to explain to key audiences in America current developments in Europe and how they affect the transatlantic relationship.

Europe Center

Eye on Europe’s elections Mar 20, 2026

Your primer on Denmark’s snap parliamentary elections

By Atlantic Council experts

As Danish voters head to the polls on March 24 for a snap parliamentary election, our experts provide their insights on the defining issues of the campaign.
Elections Europe & Eurasia
Europe Center

Dispatches Mar 18, 2026

Europe should help in the Gulf to serve its own interests, regardless of Trump’s demands

By Daniel Fried, Jörn Fleck

European leaders have plenty of reasons to engage constructively with the United States and partners in the Middle East.
Conflict Europe & Eurasia
Europe Center

Dispatches Mar 10, 2026

Has the EU found a ‘magic bullet’ to its enlargement conundrum or a new distraction?

By Agon Maliqi

A proposal for European Union enlargement would offer new member states a kind of second-class status, effectively creating a two-tier EU.
European Union Eurozone
ALL COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

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Get the latest updates, publications, and events from the Europe Center.

Regions in focus

European Union

Growing from its start as the European Coal and Steel Community, the European Union has risen as a key actor and norm-setter in areas as diverse as trade, energy security, digital policy, and defense. In an era of great power competition, the United States has a national interest in the EU reinvigorating faith in the European project.

France

The United States’ oldest ally, France is a key strategic partner for Washington. France remains a key country to watch for the future of the European project as it pursues a vision for a more integrated, cohesive European Union.

Germany

Germany is a key player in the transatlantic relationship and in Europe. The US-German relationship has been the backbone of the international order for seven decades, and a strong transatlantic community and rules-based order relies on close US-German cooperation.

Poland

Poland is a major actor within NATO and the European Union, a growing economic powerhouse, and an influential regional leader. With increased Russian aggression, foreign influence campaigns, and a rise of populism, the United states needs to continue investing in the relationship with a key ally.

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is a long-time friend and ally of the United States. Despite wrestling with internal challenges, the UK plays an important leadership role in the international system as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, a NATO leader, and the bridge between Europe and the United States on issues of defense, security, sanctions, and trade.

The Western Balkans

The Balkans are enjoying a period of relative stability after decades of turmoil. US and European engagement are as necessary as ever to stabilize the fragile peace of the 1990s and build further Euro-Atlantic political and economic integration.

Issues in focus

Transatlantic Digital Marketplace Initiative

The Transatlantic Digital Marketplace Initiative seeks to foster greater US-EU understanding and collaboration on digital policy matters and build tangible cooperation in this fast-growing area of the transatlantic economy.

Three Seas Initiative Programming

The Atlantic Council strives to promote a Europe undivided, free, and prosperous through its support of the Three Seas Initiative. The Initiative seeks to bolster investment in Central and Eastern European transportation, energy, and digital infrastructure to improve regional connectivity and bolster development.

Transform Europe Initiative

Based on the lessons of the Kremlin’s war on Ukraine, the Transform Europe Initiative aims to strengthen European security against petro-aggression, climate change, and weaponized corruption. The initiative aids in the development of structural reforms and expedited but practical solutions that promote Europe’s decarbonization and defenses against transnational kleptocracy networks.

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Featured in-depth research & reports

The Europe Center conducts research to guide the actions and strategy of key transatlantic decision makers on the issues that will shape the future of the transatlantic relationship.

Europe Center

Report Jan 14, 2026

Digital sovereignty: Europe’s declaration of independence?

By Frances Burwell, Kenneth Propp

In Brussels, “digital sovereignty” may be the new “strategic autonomy”: a push for Europe to go its own way and depend less on the United States. As US tech companies and EU regulators clash, catch up on a policy debate with consequences playing out online and in the halls of power.
Digital Policy Economy & Business
Europe Center

Issue Brief Jan 14, 2026

Transatlantic cooperation on protecting minors online

By Michèle Ledger

There is widespread agreement among US and EU officials on the need to protect children online. US-EU dialogue on areas of commonality could facilitate a more efficient rollout of services and technologies to protect users.
Digital Policy European Union
Europe Center

Report Dec 19, 2025

Enhancing land military mobility in Europe: Advocating a pragmatic approach

By Clément Gaubert, Freddy Geay, François Catala, and Léonie Allard

Solving the challenges of military mobility in Europe requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society perspective. Given the geopolitical climate, Europe should move quickly on this most pressing issues for the North Atlantic Alliance.
Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy
ALL IN-DEPTH RESEARCH

Featured events

By convening American and European leaders, through public events and workshops, the Europe Center promotes dialogue to bolster the transatlantic partnership.

Online Event Mon, March 16, 2026 • 10:30 am ET

What role should Europe play in the Middle East?

An expert discussion on how Europe is approaching the war in Iran and its implications for the region, Europe, and transatlantic relations.
Conflict Europe & Eurasia European Union Middle East
General view of the United Nations Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East at the UN headquarters on February 28, 2026, in New York City. (Wang Fan/China News Service/VCG via Reuters Connect)
Online Event Wed, January 14, 2026 • 12:00 pm ET

The future of EU-Mercosur trade

A panel of experts unpack the EU-Mercosur trade deal and what it means for competitiveness, climate-linked trade rules, and the future of transatlantic strategy.
European Union Latin America Trade and tariffs
ALL EVENTS

Debriefs

#AtlanticDebrief

#AtlanticDebrief hosts interviews with leading experts, policymakers, and newsmakers from both sides of the Atlantic to unpack the challenges and opportunities of the transatlantic relationship.

Explore the Series

#BalkansDebrief

The Atlantic Council Europe Center’s #BalkansDebrief series features timely conversations on key issues impacting the Western Balkans. Nonresident senior fellow Ilva Tare hosts newsmakers, experts, and officials for discussions on rule of law, energy security, cultural heritage, Russian and Chinese influence in the region, and more.

Explore the Series

Experts

Fellow

Richard Hurowitz

Nonresident senior fellow

Europe Center

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Naz El-Khatib

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

Europe & Eurasia Indo-Pacific

Fellow

Christopher Hill

Distinguished Fellow

Europe Center

Europe & Eurasia French

Fellow

William Drozdiak

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

Europe & Eurasia France

Fellow

Valeska Esch

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

European Union Germany

Fellow

Amanda Thorpe

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy
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Content

Event Recap

Oct 8, 2019

Securing Northern Europe

On September 20, 2019, the Atlantic Council Northern Europe organized a seminar highlighting the launch of a new issue brief titled ‘Securing Northern Europe: Toward A Comprehensive Approach’. Director for Northern Europe Anna Wieslander and Project Assistant Elin Schiffer presented the report for an audience consisting of invited members of parliament, civil servants, foreign diplomats […]

Northern Europe

In the News

Oct 5, 2019

Fried quoted in The New York Times on Kurt Volker and Ukraine

By Atlantic Council

Corruption Politics & Diplomacy

Blog Post

Oct 3, 2019

A digital agenda for the new European Commission: issues and opportunities

By Jörn Fleck and Alex Baker

Under the outgoing European Commission of President Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Union has emerged as the regulatory superpower of the global digital economy. Early signs indicate Brussels will continue to leverage the power of the single market and its regulatory approach when a new Commission takes office in November 2019.

Digital Policy European Union

New Atlanticist

Oct 2, 2019

Europe’s new commission: The outlook for digital policy

By Frances Burwell

A quick look at how the new European Commission will line up on digital policy.

Cybersecurity Digital Policy

In the News

Oct 2, 2019

Fried quoted in NBC News on Kurt Volker and the impeachment inquiry

By Atlantic Council

Conflict Corruption

In the News

Sep 26, 2019

Fried joins NPR to discuss Trump’s disparaging of former ambassador to Ukraine

By Atlantic Council

Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Sep 20, 2019

How to make a lasting regime change: A guide for aspiring (democratic) reformers

By Jakub Wiśniewski

Why did the Central Europeans succeed when so many efforts at regime change from within failed – ending in tears, bitter disappointment or bloodshed?

Central Europe Democratic Transitions

Issue Brief

Sep 20, 2019

Securing Northern Europe: Toward a comprehensive approach

By Anna Wieslander and Elin Schiffer

As Northern Europe finds itself on the front line of systemic great-power competition it has the consider three main challenges: an assertive Russia, changing dynamics in the transatlantic link and the development of a European defense. This present a unique window of opportunity to develop a comprehensive regional approach, bringing together the Baltic Sea, the North Atlantic and the Arctic.

Europe & Eurasia NATO

Issue Brief

Sep 18, 2019

A transatlantic agenda for the new European Commission

By Benjamin Haddad and Jörn Fleck (Eds)

The new European Commission will take office on November 1, 2019, at a time of intensifying great power competition and new strain for transatlantic relations. This memo gathers the contributions of several Atlantic Council experts on a variety of issues such as defense, foreign policy, trade, and energy policy

Cybersecurity Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Sep 18, 2019

A geopolitical European Commission: Can the incoming president make it work?

By Olivier-Rémy Bel and Jörn Fleck

The selection process and presentation have been received relatively well and signal a new Commission leadership adept at messaging and politics. But questions remain whether Ursula von der Leyen can make the complex Commission work

European Union Politics & Diplomacy
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Events

Online Event Mon, March 23, 2026 • 11:00 am ET

Transatlantic relations in an era of upheaval
Digital Policy Economy & Business Energy & Environment Europe & Eurasia
Public Event Thu, March 26, 2026 • 2:30 pm ET

Gina McCarthy and the European Commission’s Teresa Ribera on climate cooperation
Climate Change & Climate Action Politics & Diplomacy
Flagship Event Fri, December 11, 2026 • 8:30 am ET

2026 Transatlantic Forum on GeoEconomics

The Transatlantic Forum on GeoEconomics is an annual flagship convening focused on issues at the nexus of economics, finance, foreign policy, and national security.
Digital Policy Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia European Union