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.

Brexit or Bremain, What the EU Desperately Needs is Reform

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.

Read More

Brexit or Bremain, What the EU Desperately Needs is Reform

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

Brexit or Bremain, What the EU Desperately Needs is Reform

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.

Read More

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

Brexit or Bremain, What the EU Desperately Needs is Reform

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

Brexit or Bremain, What the EU Desperately Needs is Reform

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

Brexit or Bremain, What the EU Desperately Needs is Reform

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.

EXPLORE THE PROGRAM

Content

Bremain vs Brexit

Jun 21, 2016

Brexit or Bremain, What the EU Desperately Needs is Reform

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Atlantic Council experts discuss what Brussels needs to do differently British voters will take part in a referendum on June 23 to decide whether the United Kingdom should remain in the European Union. Latest polls show a close race. For months, proponents and opponents of the so-called Brexit have made their case to the British […]

European Union International Organizations

Bremain vs Brexit

Jun 21, 2016

Burwell Quoted by CNN on Brexit and the Implications for the United States

By Frances Burwell

Read the full article here.

European Union International Organizations

MENASource

Jun 21, 2016

The EU, Areas of Conflict in International Politics, and the Case for Assuming Greater Responsibility

By Ralf Fuecks

This article is remarks by Ralf Fuecks, president of the Heinrich-Böll Foundation, presented at the Foundation’s 17th Annual Policy Conference on June 17, 2016.

European Union International Organizations

Bremain vs Brexit

Jun 21, 2016

London Riches Falling Down

By Nathaniel Rome

London is the undisputed financial capital of Europe, and is rivaled only by New York City for the top spot worldwide (Global Financial Centers Index). When competing on a level playing field, London outperforms other major European financial centers because of the superior human capital, infrastructure, and regulatory environment of the city. London dominates 78 percent of European FOREX trading and generates a trade surplus worth tens of billions of pounds (UK Office of National Statistics).

Economy & Business European Union

Bremain vs Brexit

Jun 21, 2016

Montanino in MarketWatch: Five Steps the European Union Must Take Regardless of the Brexit Vote

By Andrea Montanino

Read the full article here.

European Union International Organizations

Trade in Action

Jun 15, 2016

TTIP&TRADE in Action – June 15, 2016

By Global Business & Economics Program

The Atlantic Council’s Global Business & Economics Program‘s latest EconoGraphic “Britannia, Rule the Trade!” analyzes the benefits of Britain’s accession to the European Union, and the negative effects a “Brexit” would have on the British economy.  If you missed last week’s new Atlantic Council publication “To Brexit or to Bremain- That is the Question“, make sure to read it […]

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia
Members Program promo

Bremain vs Brexit

Jun 14, 2016

After the Vote: Implications of the UK Referendum

After the Vote: Implications of the UK Referendum Ms. Natalie NougayredeColumnist, Leader Writer, and Foreign Affairs Commentator, The Guardian Ambassador Richard MorningstarFormer US Ambassador to the European Union; Founding Director and Chairman, Global Energy Center, Atlantic Council Sir Peter WestmacottFormer British Ambassador to the United States Moderated by:Ms. Claire YorkeNonresident Senior Fellow, Brent Scowcroft Center […]

European Union International Organizations

Bremain vs Brexit

Jun 13, 2016

Montanino in La Stampa: Europe Will Face Uncertainity if Brexit Happens

By Andrea Montanino

Read the full article here.

European Union International Organizations

Bremain vs Brexit

Jun 9, 2016

Britannia, Rule the Trade!

By Nathaniel Rome & TK Spandhla

The decades following World War II experienced an explosion of global trade. The annual growth rate of global exports averaged 8 percent in the 1950s, 9 percent in the 1960s, and 20 percent in the 1970s (World Trade Organization). During this boom of global trade, the volume of UK exports grew in absolute terms. However, up until the mid-1970s, the UK trade growth lagged behind the global average.

Economy & Business European Union

New Atlanticist

Jun 9, 2016

Great Expectations: Aspirant Nations See NATO Enlargement as Vital to Europe’s Stability

By Mitch Hulse

NATO membership for countries in the Balkans and for Georgia is crucial for the stability of Europe and will send a clear signal that Russia does not have a veto over the alliance’s enlargement plans, panelists, including officials from Macedonia and Georgia, said at the Atlantic Council on June 8.

European Union Greece
Load More

Experts

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

Staff

Lize de Kruijf

Program Assistant, Economic Statecraft Initiative

Economic Statecraft Initiative GeoEconomics Center

Dutch Economic Sanctions

Fellow

Jeppe Kofod

Distinguished Fellow

Global Energy Center

Energy & Environment Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Agon Maliqi

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

Albanian Bosnian

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Lukasz Lisicki

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

Millennium Leadership Program

Central Europe Energy & Environment
Load More

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