Europe Center - Atlantic Council

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

Dispatches Oct 8, 2026

A French-German non-paper could be a turning point in EU trade defense

By L. Daniel Mullaney

What to know about the proposal for a quicker European trade-retaliation tool.

European Union Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

Europe Center

Dispatches Oct 2, 2026

What the US gains by keeping a military presence in Kosovo

A US withdrawal would be read as disengagement from the Western Balkans and, with it, from the regional security architecture that it helped shape.

Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding Security & Defense

Europe Center

Dispatches Sep 17, 2026

Macron won the argument over European strategic autonomy. Will better European defense come of it?

By Aurélie Vittot

Delivering real capabilities is where this vision of strategic autonomy will succeed or fail.

Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia

ALL COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

Stay updated

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.

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

Issue Brief Oct 15, 2026

Measuring Europe’s rearmament: A year of the Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030

By Eva Mulholland, Aurélie Vittot

One year since the EU debuted its “Defence Readiness Roadmap,” with forty-five milestones Europe must meet to take responsibility for its own defense by 2030, is the EU on track?

Defense Policy Europe

Europe Center

Issue Brief Sep 29, 2026

The strategic rationale for closer investment ties between Europe and the Gulf

By Jeffrey Lightfoot

Europe and the Gulf both stand to benefit from investing more in each region. Which projects make the most sense?

Economy & Business Europe

Europe Center

Report Sep 4, 2026

The right wing takes aim at the EU’s linchpin

By Jeffrey Gedmin

Germany’s far-right AfD party is closing in on a once-unthinkable prize: an absolute majority in a state government. As polls show the party in the lead ahead of Saxony-Anhalt’s September 6 election, can the center hold?

Elections European Union

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 Wed, September 30, 2026 • 10:00 am ET

Can US-EU relations get back on track?

The Europe Center convenes an expert panel to discuss the key issues shaping US-EU relations.

Europe Politics & Diplomacy

Public Event Thu, September 17, 2026 • 10:30 am ET

Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski on North Macedonia’s Euro-Atlantic trajectory

Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski joins the Atlantic Council to discuss US-North Macedonia relations and his country’s path toward the European Union.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia European Union Politics & Diplomacy

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

Valeriya Ionan

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Eurasia Center Europe Center

Digital Policy English

Fellow

Margaritis Schinas

Distinguished Fellow

English European Union

Fellow

Jacek Siewiera

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Central Europe English

Fellow

Piotr Arak

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Central Europe Economy & Business

Active affiliation

Olena Babakova

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Central Europe Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Stjepan Orešković

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Croatian Economy & Business

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Content

Issue Brief

Measuring Europe’s rearmament: A year of the Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030

By Eva Mulholland, Aurélie Vittot

One year since the EU debuted its "Defence Readiness Roadmap," with forty-five milestones Europe must meet to take responsibility for its own defense by 2030, is the EU on track?

Defense Policy Europe

Dispatches

Dispatch from Moldova: How to restore NATO’s deterrence against Russia’s escalating drone attacks

By Ian Brzezinski

Restoring deterrence will require a course correction in the West’s approach to Russia's escalating drone attacks.

Eastern Europe Moldova

Dispatches

A French-German non-paper could be a turning point in EU trade defense

By L. Daniel Mullaney

What to know about the proposal for a quicker European trade-retaliation tool.

European Union Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

Dispatches

What the US gains by keeping a military presence in Kosovo

A US withdrawal would be read as disengagement from the Western Balkans and, with it, from the regional security architecture that it helped shape.

Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding Security & Defense

Eye on Europe's elections

5 questions (and expert answers) about Bosnia and Herzegovina’s election

By Amanda Thorpe, Jasmin Mujanović, Olivia Olson

Atlantic Council experts explain the players, voting system, and implications for the EU and NATO.

Elections The Balkans

Issue Brief

The strategic rationale for closer investment ties between Europe and the Gulf

By Jeffrey Lightfoot

Europe and the Gulf both stand to benefit from investing more in each region. Which projects make the most sense?

Economy & Business Europe

Issue Brief

Trade and connectivity in the Europe-Gulf strategic partnership

By Valbona Zeneli

Boosting trade between European and Gulf states requires progress on two key projects planned to connect the regions: the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, and a free trade agreement. Can the disruption caused by the Iran war provide an impetus to move these stalled projects forward?

Economy & Business Europe

Issue Brief

Three principles to guide European-Gulf defense cooperation

By Jean-Loup Samaan

How can Europe and Gulf cooperate more effectively on defense?

Defense Industry Europe

Issue Brief

How Europe and the Gulf can unite behind an energy-transition agenda

By Ariel Ezrahi

European and Gulf states share a strong interest in restoring the free flow of energy cut off by the Iran war, and in reducing their economies' exposure to chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz. What's their best path forward?

Energy Transitions Europe

Fast Thinking

What the Greenland deal means for the transatlantic alliance

By Atlantic Council

Our experts unpack what we know and what to expect from the announced security deal involving the US, Denmark, and Greenland.

Greenland Northern Europe

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Events

Flagship Event Fri, December 11, 2026 • 8:00 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