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.

Gaps in NATO Hybrid Defense

New Atlanticist
Jun 26, 2025

To retaliate, or not to retaliate, that is the question for the EU on Trump’s tariffs

Striking back at US tariffs is unlikely to help the EU achieve its goals of a more stable and open trading partnership with the United States.

Read More

Gaps in NATO Hybrid Defense

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

Gaps in NATO Hybrid Defense

New Atlanticist
Jul 10, 2025

Populist gains are threatening Europe’s strategic coherence. Here’s how the EU can fight back.

By
Sona Muzikarova

Far-right populist gains across Europe risk hindering the military buildup necessary to deter mounting security threats to the continent.

Central Europe
Civil Society

Featured events

Online Event
Fri, July 11, 2025 • 10:30 am ET

What comes next for transatlantic trade

Experts discuss the next steps in the US-EU trade negotiations following the conclusion of the ninety-day tariff pause.

Economy & Business
Europe & Eurasia
European Union
Trade and tariffs


Online Event
Wed, July 2, 2025 • 10:00 am ET

How to bridge the trust gap to drive the Western Balkans’ EU integration

The Atlantic Council’s Europe Center hosts a panel discussion in Skopje, North Macedonia to discuss how to bridge the trust gap between the Western Balkans and the EU on the region’s path to EU membership.

Economy & Business
Europe & Eurasia
European Union
Political Reform


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


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

Gaps in NATO Hybrid Defense

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

Gaps in NATO Hybrid Defense

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

Gaps in NATO Hybrid Defense

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

Estonian soldier participating in NATO's Steadfast Javelin Exercise, May 11, 2015

NATOSource

Jul 30, 2015

Gaps in NATO Hybrid Defense

By Mark Galeotti, War on the Rocks

[In hybrid warfare,] soldiers are often the last, not the first into the breach, only appearing once the war has been all but won through political and economic subversion, division, and demoralization.

European Union Intelligence

Europe After The Vote

Jul 23, 2015

A Strategic Conversation: Interagency Process Reform, the Greek Crisis, and Beyond

By Atlantic Council

On July 14th, the Atlantic Council’s Strategy Initiative hosted a public event to discuss the pertinent issues of interagency process reform, the Greek Crisis, and the Iran nuclear deal. The event also served as the official launch of the Atlantic Council’s partnership with The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.

European Union Greece
20150715 debt to gdp ratio

Europe After The Vote

Jul 15, 2015

Here’s Why the IMF Insists on Debt Restructuring for Greece

By Andrea Montanino

On June 26, just before Greece’s referendum, and on July 14, one day after the so-called agreement between the Greek government and the creditors (the International Monetary Fund, the European Union, the European Central Bank), the IMF unusually made public a short but crucial document in any negotiation over a financial aid package: the debt […]

European Union Greece

Europe After The Vote

Jul 14, 2015

EU Must Invest in Its Newest Statesman—and Keep Him Honest

By Matthew Bryza

This past Sunday in Brussels, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras received a well-earned dressing down for seventeen hours by his Eurozone colleagues.  Following months of bombast that destroyed Athens’ trust among its creditors, Tsipras’ most recent two weeks of erratic behavior seemed like a transparent attempt to blackmail the European Union. According to EU officials, […]

Europe & Eurasia European Union

Europe After The Vote

Jul 13, 2015

Deal will ‘Weaken’ Greece’s Tsipras

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Domestic Politics Weighed Heavily on Greek Negotiations, says Atlantic Council’s Fran Burwell The terms of an agreement between Greece and its Eurozone creditors are tough, but there is an implicit recognition that austerity alone is not the answer, says the Atlantic Council’s Fran Burwell. “There needs to be solidarity within the Eurozone and one has […]

Europe & Eurasia European Union

Europe After The Vote

Jul 13, 2015

Not Yet a Done Deal with Greece

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Atlantic Council’s Andrea Montanino sees onerous limitations on Greek sovereignty A deal that paves the way to negotiations on a third bailout for Greece imposes tough limitations on Greek sovereignty that could endanger Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ government, says the Atlantic Council’s Andrea Montanino. Montanino said it is premature to declare that marathon negotiations over […]

Europe & Eurasia European Union

Report

Jul 9, 2015

The impact of Turkish Stream on European energy security and the Southern Gas Corridor

By John Roberts

Russia has proposed building a major new pipeline intended to carry gas to customers in both Turkey and the European Union. The project, dubbed Turkish Stream, is controversial and is of profound significance for European energy security.

European Union Geopolitics & Energy Security

Europe After The Vote

Jul 9, 2015

Every Effort Being Made to Avoid Grexit, says European Commission’s Dombrovskis

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Official says Greece needs to be credible partner to avoid Eurozone exit Every effort is being made to keep Greece in the Eurozone, but the Greek government has to show that it can be a genuine partner by presenting a credible reform proposal in its bid to secure a bailout, a senior European Commission official […]

Europe & Eurasia European Union

Europe After The Vote

Jul 7, 2015

IMF Has to Change its Policies Because of Greece

By Anders Åslund

The Greek economic tragedy has damaged all those involved. That is also true of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In May 2010, the IMF approved its biggest financial assistance program ever for Greece—no less than €30 billion—resulting in current Greek obligations of €21.2 billion to the IMF, though the European Union (EU) credits to Greece […]

European Union Greece

New Atlanticist

Jul 6, 2015

Dealing with Greece

By Ashish Kumar Sen

A deal on Greek terms will weaken Europe, says Atlantic Council’s Andrea Montanino Europe will be weakened by a financial aid deal with Greece that is seen to be solely on Athens’ terms, says the Atlantic Council’s Andrea Montanino. Greek banks are on the verge of running out of cash and the European Central Bank […]

European Union Greece
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Experts

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

Fellow

Andrea Rigoni

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Cybersecurity Digital Policy

Fellow

Evi Fuelle

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoTech Center

Digital Policy Economy & Business
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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