European Union

European Union

Growing from its start as the European Coal and Steel Community, the European Union today has twenty-seven member states and is the only democratic, intergovernmental, supranational organization in the world. It 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 among Europeans and the rest of the world.

Region Spotlight

The only union of its kind

The European Union

Growing from its start as the European Coal and Steel Community, the European Union today has twenty-seven member states and is the only democratic, intergovernmental, supranational organization in the world. It 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 among Europeans and the rest of the world.

Ukraine can do more to counter Russia’s illicit finance threat

Dispatches Sep 16, 2026

What von der Leyen and Carney are up to with Canada’s ‘associate’ EU membership

In her state of the union address, the European Commission president proposed Ottawa join the European Union, but not as a full member.

Read More
Ukraine can do more to counter Russia’s illicit finance threat

Issue Brief May 29, 2026

Can the EU’s mutual-defense clause replace NATO’s Article 5?

By James Batchik and Katherine Johnson

The European Union’s mutual-defense clause, less well-known than NATO’s commitment under Article 5 that an attack on one is an attack on all, is receiving new attention in light of questions over the US security commitment to Europe.

European Union NATO
Ukraine can do more to counter Russia’s illicit finance threat

Dispatches Jun 11, 2026

What a winning European Security Strategy looks like

By Aurélie Vittot

The soon-to-be-released framework document is expected to shape the European Union’s policy response to the security challenges at hand.
Defense Policy European Union

Featured events

Public Event Wed, June 24, 2026 • 5:00 pm ET

Roberto Viola on the EU’s tech sovereignty agenda and US-EU cooperation

The director-general of the European Commission’s DG Connect joins the Atlantic Council to discuss the EU’s rapidly evolving approach to tech sovereignty and the transatlantic implications.
Artificial Intelligence Digital Policy European Union Politics & Diplomacy
Online Event Mon, March 23, 2026 • 11:00 am ET

Transatlantic relations in an era of upheaval

An expert discussion on how Europe is reacting to events in 2026 and approaching its geopolitical ambitions in a changing international landscape.
Digital Policy Economy & Business Energy & Environment Europe & Eurasia

The Transatlantic Digital Marketplace Initiative

The Europe Center’s Transatlantic Digital Marketplace Initiative seeks to foster greater understanding on digital policy between the United States and Europe and build tangible cooperation in this critical area of the transatlantic relationship.

Read More

Issue Brief

Improving transatlantic cooperation on digital competition

by Zach Meyers

Greater dialogue between US and EU regulators would reveal similar priorities on digital competition, mergers, and antitrust issues, and could lead to greater alignment on key digital competition issues.

In-depth Research & reports

Ukraine can do more to counter Russia’s illicit finance threat

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
Ukraine can do more to counter Russia’s illicit finance threat

Issue Brief Mar 25, 2026

Negotiating an EU-US biometric information-sharing agreement

By Kenneth Propp

Amid tensions between the US and Europe over trade, tech, and now the war in Iran, Washington and Brussels are negotiating over the US Department of Homeland Security’s request for access to European biometric data. What does each side want—and what is achievable?
Cybersecurity Digital Policy
Ukraine can do more to counter Russia’s illicit finance threat

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

Program

The Europe Center promotes the transatlantic leadership and strategies required to ensure a strong Europe.

EXPLORE THE PROGRAM

Content

UkraineAlert

Sep 17, 2026

Ukraine can do more to counter Russia’s illicit finance threat

By Matthew McGlynn

For more than four years, Ukraine has impressed global audiences with the country’s ability to defend itself against Russia on land, at sea, and in the air. Illicit finance is another important front in the fight against Russian aggression, writes Matthew McGlynn.

Conflict Cybersecurity

UkraineAlert

Sep 17, 2026

Putin is escalating against NATO but a Baltic incursion remains unlikely

By James Rice

The recent escalation in Russian gray zone aggression across Europe has sparked a lively debate over how far the Kremlin may be prepared to go, but a Russian attack on the Baltic states remains unlikely, writes James Rice.

Conflict European Union

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

Dispatches

Sep 16, 2026

What von der Leyen and Carney are up to with Canada’s ‘associate’ EU membership

By Jörn Fleck and Imran Bayoumi

In her state of the union address, the European Commission president proposed Ottawa join the European Union, but not as a full member.

European Union Politics & Diplomacy

UkraineAlert

Sep 15, 2026

With Putin overextended in Ukraine, Armenia is turning away from Russia

By Joseph Epstein

Every day Ukraine keeps fighting, Russian influence grows weaker in the countries of the ex-USSR that Moscow refers to as the “near abroad.” Nowhere is this Russian retreat clearer than in Armenia, writes Joseph Epstein.

Conflict Democratic Transitions

Blog Post

Sep 15, 2026

Digital sovereignty and Europe’s democracy stack: Delivering on the European Union’s priorities for the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework

By Mark Scott, Richard Woods

The EU's digital sovereignty agenda is missing a funded, independent institutional capability to hold its own technology investments democratically accountable."

Democracy Digital Policy

UkraineAlert

Sep 10, 2026

As Russia’s invasion falters, Putin boasts of imaginary victories

By Peter Dickinson

Putin was caught lying about imaginary Russian victories again in September. His habit of exaggerating battlefield gains reflects mounting unease over the credibility gap between the Kremlin’s superpower pretensions and his army’s underwhelming performance in Ukraine, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Disinformation

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

UkraineAlert

Sep 3, 2026

Putin cannot defeat NATO but he could divide and discredit the alliance

By Peter Dickinson

If Russian President Vladimir Putin decides to attack NATO, his goal will be to divide and discredit the alliance rather than actually defeating it, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Defense Policy

UkraineAlert

Sep 3, 2026

Russia is trying to bully Europe into abandoning Ukraine

By Maksym Beznosiuk, Will Dixon

Russia is escalating its campaign of so-called “grey zone” aggression against Europe as Putin attempts to intimidate EU leaders and deter further support for Ukraine, write Maksym Beznosiuk and Will Dixon.

Conflict Drones
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Experts

Staff

Charlotte Bertrand

Program Assistant

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

China Defense Industry

Fellow

Joseph T. Bonivel Jr.

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoTech Center

Cybersecurity Defense Technologies

Fellow

Erik Brattberg

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

Danish Digital Policy

Fellow

Chris Brummer

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoEconomics Center

Digital Currencies Economy & Business

Fellow

Justina Budginaite-Froehly

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center Transatlantic Security Initiative

Defense Industry European Union

Fellow

Julie Chon

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoEconomics Center

Americas China
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Events

Online Event Mon, October 12, 2026 • 9:00 am ET

Atlantic Council’s 2026 IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings in Thailand

The Atlantic Council’s Geoeconomics Center will broadcasting live from the IMF–World Bank official campus in Bangkok, bringing the Meetings to a global audience.
Americas Digital Currencies Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia
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