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.

Avoiding tariff escalation and making the transatlantic economy stronger

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

Avoiding tariff escalation and making the transatlantic economy stronger

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

Avoiding tariff escalation and making the transatlantic economy stronger

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

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
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


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

Avoiding tariff escalation and making the transatlantic economy stronger

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

Avoiding tariff escalation and making the transatlantic economy stronger

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

Avoiding tariff escalation and making the transatlantic economy stronger

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

New Atlanticist

Jun 20, 2019

Avoiding tariff escalation and making the transatlantic economy stronger

By Antonio de Lecea

US exports and jobs can increase if the United States and the EU eliminate current tariffs on industrial goods and reduce the compliance costs of exporting across the Atlantic.

Economy & Business European Union

EnergySource

Jun 20, 2019

Power sector transformation and emissions pathways: US and Europe in 2018

By Robert F. Ichord

With the changes in the United States Congress in 2019 and the intensifying presidential primary election campaign, we have seen, in stark contrast to Trump Administration views, considerable attention placed by the Democrats on climate change and the ambitious vision of the Green New Deal. In Europe, the European Union (EU) Parliament has approved more […]

Energy Markets & Governance Energy Transitions

New Atlanticist

Jun 20, 2019

How the European Union avoided a disinformation crisis

By David A. Wemer

EU official says proactive measures helped lessen the impact of coordinated disinformation campaigns during the EU parliamentary elections.

Disinformation European Union

UkraineAlert

Jun 17, 2019

One month into the Zelenskyy presidency and Ukraine’s still here

By Steven Pifer

Volodymyr Zelenskyy became Ukraine’s sixth president on May 20. The political neophyte’s election raised a host of questions about lack of governing experience, connections to oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky, the composition of his inner circle, and his priorities once in office. One month into Zelenskyy’s presidency, those questions still require answers, and we have yet to […]

Conflict Corruption

EnergySource

Jun 13, 2019

Nord Stream 2: From EU law to US sanctions law

By Alan Riley

Rainer Seele, the chief executive officer of Austrian energy company OMV and corporate ally of Gazprom, recently called on Europe to defend itself from the proposed US sanctions aimed to stop Nord Stream 2. It is far from clear to which ‘Europe’ Seele is referring. In December 2018, the European Parliament voted 433 to 105 […]

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance
BRexit Sanctions

Program Impact Story

Jun 12, 2019

Britain’s sanction post-Brexit

By Atlantic Council

On June 12, the Global Business and Economics Program’s Economic Sanctions Initiative hosted a private roundtable on the implications of Brexit for the United Kingdom’s sanctions policy, featuring Qudsi Rasheed, sanctions envoy for the UK government. He explained in detail the UK’s new institutional set-up for sanctions policy. Mr. Rasheed also discussed UK-US-EU cooperation on […]

Economy & Business European Union

Event Recap

Jun 11, 2019

Sanctions Lunch with Brian Hook: Prospects for the United States’ Maximum Pressure Campaign on Iran

By Global Business & Economics

On June 11, the Atlantic Council’s Global Business & Economics Program’s Economic Sanctions Initiative hosted a roundtable discussion on the prospects of the United States’ maximum pressure campaign on Iran, featuring Brian Hook, US Special Representative for Iran and Senior Policy Advisor to the Secretary of State.

Economy & Business European Union

Event Recap

Jun 10, 2019

Transatlantic Ties After the EU Elections: Prospects for Transatlantic Cooperation in Trade and Sanctions

By Global Business & Economics Program

On June 10, the Atlantic Council’s Global Business & Economics Program’s and Future Europe Initiative hosted a roundtable discussion on the current state and the future of transatlantic ties featuring Caroline Vicini, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to the United States. The event also served as a farewell to Ms. Vicini, who after several years of distinguished leadership in her current position will be soon leaving Washington, DC.

Economy & Business European Union

New Atlanticist

Jun 7, 2019

Washington’s WTO frustrations a key stumbling block in transatlantic trade ties

By Bart Oosterveld

The Trump administration has decided to significantly escalate tensions on WTO governance issues given these longer standing concerns, as well as given high-profile cases in front of the WTO that directly affect the EU-US trade relationship.

Economy & Business European Union

New Atlanticist

Jun 7, 2019

US-European trade talks stall

By Bart Oosterveld

Deep integration of trade and economies aside, several longstanding economic dynamics affect the transatlantic relationship and hinder its expansion.

Economy & Business European Union
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Experts

Fellow

Paul Adamson

Senior Advisor

Europe Center

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Anca Agachi

Nonresident Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Africa Conflict

Fellow

Alexander Alden

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Policy English

Staff

Nika Aleksejeva

Resident Fellow, Baltics

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Belarus Disinformation

Millennium fellow

Luis Alvarado

Senior Climate Advisor at the Mission Possible Partnership, World Economic Forum

Millennium Leadership Program

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy & Environment

Fellow

Mark Boris Andrijanič

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center Millennium Leadership Program

Central Europe Economy & Business
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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 be 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