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.

How the U.S. can avoid COVID-19’s geopolitical perils

Report Mar 3, 2025

The art of the transatlantic deal

The transatlantic relationship is shifting with US president Donald Trump’s return to the White House. Nevertheless, discreet deals across the US-EU trade, energy, and defense sectors are possible.

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How the U.S. can avoid COVID-19’s geopolitical perils

Issue Brief Mar 5, 2025

The EU must become a strategic player in defense—alongside NATO

By Justina Budginaite-Froehly

The European Union and NATO need renewed alignment on defense to meet the new geopolitical moment. Refocused cooperation would provide a critically needed burden sharing to eliminate vulnerabilities and prepare Europe to withstand new realities.
Defense Industry Europe & Eurasia
How the U.S. can avoid COVID-19’s geopolitical perils

Report May 20, 2025

The European Union Growth Plan for the Western Balkans: A reality test for EU enlargement

By Valbona Zeneli, Richard Grieveson, Isabelle Ioannides, Dimitar Bechev

EU enlargement faces a test case in the Western Balkans. The current plan offers real benefits before accession, creating incentives for reform, but questions of enforceability and the relatively low amount of financial support threaten the success of the EU’s political influence in the region.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Featured events

Public Event Thu, April 3, 2025 • 9:30 am ET

Europe’s Teresa Ribera on the EU’s clean transition and US-EU relations

AN #ACFRONTPAGE EVENT—Teresa Ribera, executive vice-president of the European Commission, shares her vision for the EU, the bloc’s competitiveness, and the US-EU relationship.

Digital Policy Economy & Business Energy & Environment Europe & Eurasia
Online Event Thu, March 20, 2025 • 9:30 am ET

The future of EU defense

Following the release of the European Union’s whitepaper on the future of European defense, an expert panel unpacks what role the EU should play in transatlantic security.
Europe & Eurasia European Union NATO Security & Defense
Online Event Thu, February 27, 2025 • 9:30 am ET

How should Europe step up for Ukraine?

With developments unfolding quickly, the Atlantic Council hosts an expert panel discussion on what Europe can and should do in order to support Ukraine.
Europe & Eurasia European Union Politics & Diplomacy Security & Defense

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.

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New Atlanticist

The US-EU Trade and Technology Council has been a success. Now build on that success.

by L. Daniel Mullaney

A trade agreement foundation would go a long way toward ensuring US-EU engagement across different administrations and commissions.

In-depth Research & reports

How the U.S. can avoid COVID-19’s geopolitical perils

Report Oct 7, 2024

Transatlantic horizons: A collaborative US-EU policy agenda for 2025 and beyond

By Atlantic Council experts

With new leadership on both sides of the Atlantic, this report outlines an agenda for common action for the next US administration and European Commission.
Digital Policy Economy & Business
How the U.S. can avoid COVID-19’s geopolitical perils

Issue Brief May 29, 2024

Who’s a national security risk? The changing transatlantic geopolitics of data transfers

By Kenneth Propp

The geopolitics of data transfers is changing. How will Washington’s new focus on data transfers affect Europe and the transatlantic relationship?
Cybersecurity Digital Policy
How the U.S. can avoid COVID-19’s geopolitical perils

Issue Brief Oct 18, 2023

Designing a US-EU industrial and trade policy 

By Erik Brattberg, Frances Burwell, Jörn Fleck, Charles Lichfield, Zach Meyers, James Batchik, and Emma Nix

Both sides of the Atlantic are confronting the geopolitical necessity of adapting trade and industrial policies to be fit for purpose in an increasingly competitive world. To avoid competition between Washington and Brussels, policymakers must recognize each side’s priorities and commit to further cooperation to bridge the transatlantic economic relationship, not widen it.
Economy & Business Energy & Environment

Program

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

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Content

Inflection Points

Mar 21, 2020

How the U.S. can avoid COVID-19’s geopolitical perils

By Frederick Kempe

We’re only in the opening scenes of this epic COVID-19 drama, which will continue without intermission. The Chinese rebound could prove to be a welcome twist in the plot. Imagine the far-happier ending, however, if the United States and its global allies manage to join forces globally even as they isolate socially.

China Coronavirus

New Atlanticist

Mar 19, 2020

Ambassadors call for global cooperation to meet coronavirus challenge

By David A. Wemer

While societies around the world struggle to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), political leaders must continue to collaborate on solutions to mitigate the public health and economic effects of the virus.

Coronavirus East Asia

Press and members call

Mar 19, 2020

Atlantic Council press call: Unity among allies in the fight against the coronavirus

As the global community ramps up efforts to counter the rapid spread of the coronavirus, the United States and its allies and partners are taking extraordinary steps to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic. As these measures are put into effect, widescale quarantines are disrupting life for millions, the economy is facing its greatest challenge in over a decade, and longstanding geopolitical relationships are in the spotlight. How can the United States and its closest allies work together most effectively to combat this growing crisis? What lessons can we learn from countries at the leading edge of this fight in order to reduce the toll among our citizens and those of our closest friends? Ambassador Armando Varricchio, Ambassador Ashok Kumar Mirpuri, Ambassador Stavros Lambrinidis, and Barry Pavel unpack these questions and discuss the latest on the ground in Europe and Singapore.

Europe & Eurasia European Union

Inflection Points

Mar 14, 2020

Why Trump should trigger NATO’s Article 5 vs. COVID-19

By Frederick Kempe

If NATO could bend Article 5 to combat a non-state terrorist actor striking the United States, why not also to combat COVID-19. Given current transatlantic divisions, there is far greater need now than after 9/11 for a symbolic gesture of unity.

Coronavirus European Union

New Atlanticist

Mar 12, 2020

Explainer: What Trump’s Europe coronavirus travel ban means

By Atlantic Council

US President Donald J. Trump’s surprise March 11 announcement barring most travel from Europe to the United States for thirty days starting March 13 rattled stock markets and sent travelers scrambling to make new arrangements. We look in more detail at the implications of the US president’s announcement.

Economy & Business European Union

New Atlanticist

Mar 12, 2020

Trump hits out against Europe in coronavirus speech: The transatlantic alliance suffers

By Atlantic Council

“The golden rule of leading an alliance is consultation—don’t take your friends by surprise, especially when your actions target them,” Damon Wilson says. “This isn’t about being nice. This is about being smart advancing US interests. What happens the next time we need our allies?”

Coronavirus Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Mar 10, 2020

Idlib presents Europe with another migration test

By David A. Wemer

"The case should be made for a partial reengagement of Europe towards Turkey," Ambassador Michel Duclos says. "A coalition of willing should help Turkey—especially in the field of counterterrorism—to assure an effective implementation of the Moscow agreement as the only way to avoid the above scenario of a reconquest of the region by Assad."

Conflict European Union

New Atlanticist

Mar 9, 2020

Time for the European Union to reassert itself in the UN Security Council

By Peter Pindják

Brexit has not only cost the European Union (EU) one of its members, but also a coveted permanent seat at the UN Security Council (UNSC). The UK and France often provided a reliable tandem for the European Union at the UNSC, but now London and Paris may start to diverge more prominently, since the UK is no longer obliged to coordinate its positions with EU member states through Article 34 of the Lisbon Treaty. To retain its influence and maintain its global geopolitical ambitions, the EU should look for another permanent seat on the UNSC.

European Union United Nations

New Atlanticist

Mar 6, 2020

French minister: Europe is ready to prove its strength

By David A. Wemer

Despite anxiety about the state of the European Union in the face of Brexit and political populism, French Minister of State for European Affairs Amélie de Montchalin argued that there is growing evidence that Europeans are “starting to see Europe as capable of being strong [and] sovereign.” Recent joint European actions and renewed focus on building Europe’s ability to act autonomously has proved “that we can use the capabilities that we have, the power we already have, to take initiative,” de Montchalin said at the Atlantic Council on March 6.

European Union Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Mar 5, 2020

UK remains committed to positive global role after Brexit, defence secretary says

By David A. Wemer

“The security of Europe is vital to the United Kingdom’s security [and] that will not change because we have left the political union of the European Union,” UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said on March 5.

European Union NATO
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Experts

Fellow

Richard Hurowitz

Nonresident senior fellow

Europe Center

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Nik Foster

Nonresident Fellow

Global China Hub

China Energy & Environment

Fellow

Achilles Tsirgis

Visiting Fellow

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Economy & Business European Union

Fellow

Helena Fee Rasch

Visiting Fellow

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Samuel Denney

Nonresident Fellow

Transatlantic Security Initiative

English Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Andrei Covatariu

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Global Energy Center

Eastern Europe Energy & Environment
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Events

Flagship Event Tue, September 30, 2025 • 9:00 am ET

2025 Transatlantic Forum on GeoEconomics

The Transatlantic Forum on GeoEconomics is an annual conference convening economic and financial leaders from both sides of the Atlantic.
Digital Policy Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia European Union