Europe Center Commentary & Analysis

Slovakia’s presidential choice reinforces its anti-Western leanings

By Soňa Muzikárová

The victory of a Moscow-friendly populist in Slovakia’s presidential election is a worrisome shift away from Western, democratic norms.

Your primer on the European Parliament elections and how they will shape the EU

As Europe heads to the polls to elect the 10th European Parliament this June, the Europe Center is breaking down the key people and issues to know.

Ursula von der Leyen set Europe’s ‘de-risking’ in motion. What’s the status one year later?

By Jörn Fleck, Josh Lipsky, David O. Shullman

The European Commission president presented a new economic vision for the European Union’s relationship with China in March 2023.

Your primer on Slovakia’s presidential election

By Patrik Martinek and Emma Nix

As Slovakia prepares to select its next president in an election that could determine the country’s Euro-Atlantic orientation for the next five years, the Europe Center breaks down the key dynamics at play.

Putin is weaponizing corruption to weaken Europe from within

By Francis Shin

Recent revelations regarding a Kremlin influence operation in the heart of the EU have highlighted Europe’s continued vulnerability to Russian weaponized corruption, writes Francis Shin.

The G7 needs a permanent secretariat. The 2024 elections cycle demonstrates why.

By Francis Shin

Establishing a permanent secretariat would enable Group of Seven members to develop more consistent strategies together.

In this year of elections, the US-EU Trade and Technology Council should get strategic

By Frances Burwell

On April 4-5, US and EU officials will meet in Leuven, Belgium, where they will need to chart a bolder way forward for the US-EU Trade and Technology Council.

Experts react: What did the European Council just say about Ukraine and Bosnia and Herzegovina?

By Atlantic Council experts

The European Council held its quarterly meeting on March 21-22 to set the political direction for the European Union on a range of issues.

‘We still need to fight for democracy.’ Latvia’s prime minister on defending against Russian aggression.

By Daniel Hojnacki

Speaking at the Atlantic Council, Prime Minister Evika Siliņa discussed Latvia’s approach to bolstering security on NATO’s eastern flank.

A geopolitical European Commission is a must for 2025 and beyond

By James Batchik and Stuart Jones

The next European Commission president will need to prioritize the bloc’s defense transformation and economic security.