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.

The Kremlin’s gas games in Europe: Implications for policy makers

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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The Kremlin’s gas games in Europe: Implications for policy makers

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
The Kremlin’s gas games in Europe: Implications for policy makers

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.

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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

The Kremlin’s gas games in Europe: Implications for policy makers

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
The Kremlin’s gas games in Europe: Implications for policy makers

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
The Kremlin’s gas games in Europe: Implications for policy makers

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

Issue Brief

May 24, 2017

The Kremlin’s gas games in Europe: Implications for policy makers

By Ilya Zaslavskiy

“In addition to concerns over corrupt business practices, Gazprom’s operations are particularly disconcerting as the Kremlin uses the company to exert control over the post-Soviet space while deepening European dependence on Russian gas,” Zaslavskiy argues in the issue brief.

Central Europe Eastern Europe

Issue Brief

May 24, 2017

The Kremlin’s gas games in Europe: Implications for policy makers

By Ilya Zaslavskiy

“Gazprom is one of the Kremlin’s main cash generators and international political tools. The company subsidizes Russia’s wars in Ukraine and Syria, as well as the Kremlin’s well-funded effort to undermine European unity through propaganda and support for anti-European parties,” writes Ilya Zaslavskiy in “The Kremlin’s Gas Games in Europe: Implications for Policy Makers,” a […]

Central Europe Eastern Europe

Trade in Action

May 19, 2017

TRADE in ACTION – May 19, 2017

This week in TradeinAction: On the US side, Robert Lighthizer was sworn in as new USTR, President Trump met with President Santos of Colombia and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Event Recap

May 16, 2017

Balkan troubles: The European perspective and the case for US engagement

By Catherine Schaper

On May 16, the Atlantic Council’s Future Europe Initiative, in partnership with the European Fund for the Balkans, hosted a panel discussion on European perspectives regarding US engagement in the Balkans. Moderated by Damon Wilson, executive vice president of the Atlantic Council, and introduced by Igor Bandovic, senior programme manager at the European Fund for […]

European Union International Organizations

Trade in Action

May 12, 2017

TRADE in ACTION – May 12, 2017

By Global Business & Economics Program

This week in TradeinAction: Emmanuel Macron wins French presidency, routing Le Pen, Robert Lighthizer won Senate approval Thursday to become President Donald Trump’s top trade envoy, the G7 Finance Meeting starts today and European Trade Ministers meet in Council meeting to discuss Anti Dumping and Ukraine.

Economy & Business European Union

In the News

May 10, 2017

Gedmin in the Washington Post: Europe Desperately Needs Leadership. It Should Come From Berlin.

By Jeffrey Gedmin

Read the full article here.

European Union Germany

New Atlanticist

May 10, 2017

The Avoidable Return of Geopolitics in the Balkans

By Florian Bieber, Dane Taleski and Nikola Dimitrov

Political crises, regional tensions, and the decline of democracy point to an increased risk of conflict and instability in the Balkans. Peace, democratic reform, and stability in the Balkans have been guaranteed for the past two decades by the prospect of European Union (EU) membership and by US and NATO security guarantees. Both pillars of […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

May 9, 2017

Macron Faces a World of Challenges

By Louis Golino

Emmanuel Macron’s election as the next president of France is consequential not just because it is the first time that a centrist who has never held elected office has won or that it reinforces, after the recent Dutch and Austrian elections, the fact that the forces of nationalism have, at least for now, been kept […]

European Union France

New Atlanticist

May 8, 2017

Macron’s Victory is Welcome News for Saudi Arabia and Qatar

By Giorgio Cafiero and Theodore Karasik

Emmanuel Macron’s election as the next president of France is positive news for Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Among the four leading candidates in the presidential election, Riyadh and Doha most favored Macron, whose foreign policy positions are pro-European Union (EU) and who is expected to continue Paris’ overall approach to international affairs. More specifically, Macron’s […]

European Union France

New Atlanticist

May 8, 2017

The West’s Future Depends on the Political Center

By Stanley Sloan

Later in May, US President Donald J. Trump is scheduled to attend his first NATO summit. The summit will take place at a time when most NATO and European Union (EU) leaders are breathing a sigh of relief with centrist Emmanuel Macron’s defeat of the far-right Marine Le Pen in France’s presidential election on May […]

European Union France
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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

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