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.

Ukrainians call on US Senate to sanction Putin’s pipeline weapon

Issue Brief May 29, 2026

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

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.

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Ukrainians call on US Senate to sanction Putin’s pipeline weapon

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
Ukrainians call on US Senate to sanction Putin’s pipeline weapon

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

Ukrainians call on US Senate to sanction Putin’s pipeline weapon

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
Ukrainians call on US Senate to sanction Putin’s pipeline weapon

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
Ukrainians call on US Senate to sanction Putin’s pipeline weapon

Report Nov 10, 2025

Is Europe waking up to the China challenge? How geopolitics are reshaping EU and transatlantic strategy

By Zoltán Fehér, Valbona Zeneli

China’s rising global ambitions challenge both US and European interests. By examining the EU’s gradual shift toward “de-risking” and gaps in transatlantic policy, this report offers insights for developing a more coherent and coordinated strategy to address Beijing’s economic and security challenges.
China Europe & Eurasia

Program

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

EXPLORE THE PROGRAM

Content

UkraineAlert

Jan 11, 2022

Ukrainians call on US Senate to sanction Putin’s pipeline weapon

By Ukrainian civil society representatives

US senators are set to vote in the coming days on a bill for new sanctions against Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Ukrainian civil society representatives have issued an appeal calling on senators to back sanctions.

Conflict European Union

New Atlanticist

Jan 10, 2022

Intel CEO: Expect semiconductor shortages into 2023

By Katherine Walla

This year “will remain a year of very constrained supply chains,” Intel CEO Patrick Gelsinger said at the Atlantic Council, and “we expect the shortages to continue into 2023.” 

Economy & Business European Union

Blog Post

Jan 7, 2022

Plan to crack open more books in 2022? Check out what our Europe experts are reading.

By Atlantic Council's Europe Center

One of the ways the experts at the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center passed the second full year of the pandemic was by reading everything from politics, philosophy, and history to biography and, of course, fiction. Here are their favorite and often surprising top picks.

Central Europe Eastern Europe

In the News

Jan 6, 2022

Friedlander was quoted in Politico discussing EU-US response to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine

By GeoEconomics Center

Read the full article here

Economy & Business European Union

UkraineAlert

Jan 5, 2022

Appeasing Putin in Ukraine would be disastrous for European security

By Stephen Blank

Any attempt to appease Moscow and Beijing over Ukraine and Taiwan would be a dangerous betrayal of Western values that would invite bolder acts of aggression against a much more enfeebled West.

China Conflict

AC Selects

Dec 26, 2021

AC Selects: German priorities and maritime cybersecurity

Week of December 26, 2021 The Europe Center convenes experts to explore the priorities of the new German government and Germany’s foreign policy priorities across Europe. Meanwhile, the Cyber Statecraft Initiative hosts a public discussion on the maritime transportation system (MTS), the implications towards maritime cybersecurity, and the updated Cyber Strategic Outlook released by the […]

Cybersecurity Energy & Environment

EnergySource

Dec 23, 2021

Expanding the ETS to cover the road transport and building sectors would leave many Europeans behind

By Elena Benaim

An expansion of the EU's ETS to the road transport and building sectors would hit low-income Europeans hard without making a significant dent in emissions. To avoid foisting the costs of the transition onto those who can least afford it, EU policymakers should explore other avenues.

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

Issue Brief

Dec 17, 2021

The EU as a global actor in the Indo-Pacific

By Marie Jourdain

The coming French presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first semester of 2022 presents a great opportunity to turn commitments to deepen such cooperation into action, demonstrating that the transatlantic community can effectively deliver together in the Indo-Pacific region.

Europe & Eurasia European Union

In the News

Dec 17, 2021

The CBDC Tracker was featured in Forkast on the Federal Reserve other Big Four central banks concerning CBDC development

By GeoEconomics Center

Read the full article here

Digital Currencies Economy & Business

UkraineAlert

Dec 16, 2021

Vladimir Putin fears Ukrainian democracy not NATO expansion

By Peter Dickinson

Vladimir Putin's claims of a growing NATO presence in Ukraine are not matched by facts on the ground. In reality, protests over NATO expansion are an excuse to escalate Russia's eight-year war against Ukraine.

Conflict Disinformation
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Experts

Millennium fellow

Marcel Lewicki

Director of Partnerships and Development, Munich Security Conference

Millennium Leadership Program

Central Europe Eastern Europe

Staff

Charles Lichfield

Director, Economic Foresight & Analysis</br>C. Boyden Gray Senior Fellow

GeoEconomics Center

Economy & Business European Union

Fellow

Mark Linscott

Nonresident Senior Fellow, India

Trade and tariffs

Staff

Josh Lipsky

Vice President & Chair, International Economics

GeoEconomics Center

China Digital Currencies

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Lukasz Lisicki

Policy Assistant to the Director-General for Energy, European Commission

Millennium Leadership Program

Central Europe Energy & Environment

Fellow

Oumou Ly

Nonresident Fellow

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Cybersecurity Digital Policy
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Events

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