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.

Central Europe ready to lead on strengthening the transatlantic bond

Report
Oct 20, 2026

The European Union as a compound power in Cold War 2.0

Contrary to the prevailing narrative, the European Union has the economic power and strategic vision to act as a credible major power. Willingness to act is the missing piece.

Read More

Central Europe ready to lead on strengthening the transatlantic bond

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

Central Europe ready to lead on strengthening the transatlantic bond

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

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

Report

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.

In-depth Research & reports

Central Europe ready to lead on strengthening the transatlantic bond

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

Central Europe ready to lead on strengthening the transatlantic bond

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

Central Europe ready to lead on strengthening the transatlantic bond

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

Program

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

EXPLORE THE PROGRAM

Content

New Atlanticist

Jul 18, 2019

Central Europe ready to lead on strengthening the transatlantic bond

By David A. Wemer

Ministers from the Visegrád countries—the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia—celebrated the deep relationship their countries have with the United States and stressed the importance of a strong transatlantic bond.

European Union Hungary

In the News

Jul 17, 2019

Ullman in UPI: Britain’s greatness may protect against horrible Brexit outcome

By Harlan Ullman

Elections European Union

Inflection Points

Jul 13, 2019

Fighting the wrong war

By Frederick Kempe

If ever there was a “wrong war at the wrong time,” the transatlantic trade conflict that’s boiling this summer defines it. 

Economy & Business European Union

New Atlanticist

Jul 11, 2019

The US should not see Europe as a competitor, Latvian prime minister argues

By David A. Wemer

“When you combine the European Union’s market with the US market, you have clear dominance in world affairs,” Kariņš argued.

European Union Northern Europe

New Atlanticist

Jul 9, 2019

The United States doesn’t need tariffs to level the playing field

By Antonio de Lecea

While the United States thinks it can create better economic outcomes by forcing concessions out of Europe, this new action will only continue the lose-lose spiral of threats gripping the transatlantic trade relationship.

Economy & Business European Union

Event Recap

Jul 2, 2019

20 Years in the making: Mercosur-European Union reach trade deal

By Bryan Wilensky

Days after the announcement of the Mercosur-European Union trade deal, the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center partnered with the Global Business and Economics Program and the Future Europe Initiative for a conference call to discuss the details and implications of the momentous agreement. A byproduct of two decades of discussions and forty rounds […]

Brazil Economy & Business

UkraineAlert

Jun 28, 2019

Finally a new window of investment opportunity in Ukraine?

By Basil Kalymon

The fight against corruption, linked to a continued commitment to EU integration and general system reform, could greatly boost Ukraine’s economic strength.

Conflict Corruption

New Atlanticist

Jun 27, 2019

How NATO can adapt for the future

By David A. Wemer

The Alliance is now confronting new threats and challenges from within and without that require it to adapt to a new world.

European Union NATO

Timely Commentary & Analysis

Jun 27, 2019

The current state of European energy security and transatlantic cooperation

By Becca Hunziker

The Issue: The transatlantic community has made significant progress leveraging global energy resources to increase energy security, thanks to advancements in renewable energy, energy efficiency, shale oil extraction, alternative source and route development, and infrastructure. However, European energy still faces security challenges and it must continue to address them. A united and well-connected Europe is […]

Americas Energy & Environment

New Atlanticist

Jun 25, 2019

How the US-China trade war could impact US-EU negotiations and the WTO

By Robert Hormats

The full scope and depth of the impact of a prolonged US-China trade war have yet to be fully understood. This is economic terra incognita.

China Economy & Business
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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

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.

Register
Digital Policy Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia European Union