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.

An economic NATO would strengthen the U.S. and Europe

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

An economic NATO would strengthen the U.S. and Europe

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

An economic NATO would strengthen the U.S. and Europe

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.

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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

An economic NATO would strengthen the U.S. and Europe

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

An economic NATO would strengthen the U.S. and Europe

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

An economic NATO would strengthen the U.S. and Europe

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

NATOSource

Dec 7, 2012

An economic NATO would strengthen the U.S. and Europe

By Robert Nolan, U.S. News & World Report

From Robert Nolan, U.S. News & World Report:  As the European economy continues to tank, I’m often asked what the United States can do to help its friends across the Atlantic

Economy & Business European Union

New Atlanticist

Dec 7, 2012

It Is High Time for Congress to Focus on the ‘O’ in NATO

By Sarwar Kashmeri

As the U.S. Congress begins to trim the U.S. defense budget it should re-examine the structure of NATO and insist that the alliance’s bureaucracy reflect today’s geopolitical realities, not those prevailing at the end of World War II.

European Union International Organizations

NATOSource

Dec 6, 2012

It is high time for Congress to focus on the ‘O’ in NATO

By Sarwar Kashmeri, Huffington Post

From Sarwar Kashmeri, Huffington Post:  As part of trimming the U.S. defense budget Congress should insist that within 3-5 years the responsibility for the defense of Europe and its periphery be transferred to the EU.

European Union International Organizations

NATOSource

Dec 6, 2012

An economic NATO

By David Ignatius, Washington Post

From David Ignatius, Washington Post:  [A] big idea is taking shape that could revitalize the U.S.-European partnership for the 21st century.

Economy & Business European Union

NATOSource

Dec 6, 2012

Fabius on NATO: ‘France will act to pursue the reform of the alliance’

By Laurent Fabius, International Herald Tribune

From Laurent Fabius, International Herald Tribune:  In 2009, we did not support a return to the integrated command, but there is no question of organizing a permanent to-ing and fro-ing, and there would be little point in leaving it again today. However, we must ensure that our return, now officially endorsed, does not result in […]

European Union International Organizations

NATOSource

Nov 29, 2012

Clinton: A transatlantic trade deal will generate ‘hundreds of billions of dollars for our economies’

By Hillary Rodham Clinton, Department of State

From Hillary Rodham Clinton, Department of State:  Perhaps the most important question in the years ahead will be whether we invest as much energy into our economic relationship as we have put into our security relationship.

Economy & Business European Union

New Atlanticist

Nov 29, 2012

Russia’s Murky Energy Future

By Robert Manning

Earlier this month, the U.S. House approved a bill to establish permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) with Russia, also a newly-minted member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). These moves toward integrating the country into the global economy came at the same time as state oil company Rosneft took over the Russian-British partnership known as […]

Energy & Environment European Union

NATOSource

Nov 29, 2012

NATO Needs Robust European and US Economies

By James L. Jones & Thomas J. Donohue, New Atlanticist

From James L. Jones & Thomas J. Donohue, New Atlanticist:  There’s a growing and welcome awareness among NATO partners that we can’t meet our security needs without stronger, healthier economies.

Economy & Business European Union

NATOSource

Nov 28, 2012

Lukashenko: ‘I am the last and only dictator in Europe’

By Timothy Heritage and Richard Balmforth, Reuters

From Timothy Heritage and Richard Balmforth, Reuters:  He is a pariah in the West, viewed suspiciously by Russia and loathed by opponents in exile or jail, but Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko is relishing his notoriety as Europe‘s last dictator.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Nov 28, 2012

NATO Needs Strength of Robust European and US Economies

By General James L. Jones and Thomas J. Donohue

Last spring the leaders of the North Atlantic Alliance met in Chicago to reaffirm their commitment to the trans-Atlantic partnership and to devise new strategies to deal with pressing threats to our collective security.

Economy & Business European Union
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Experts

Fellow

Danuta Hübner

Distinguished Fellow

Europe Center

Democratic Transitions Economy & Business

Fellow

Dominika Kunertova

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Artificial Intelligence Central Europe

Fellow

Gorana Grgić

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Croatian Democratic Transitions

Staff

Ginger Matchett

Program Assistant

Adrienne Arsht National Security Resilience Initiative GeoStrategy Initiative

Africa Climate Change & Climate Action

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
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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