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.

Ukraine Turns Away from Europe and the West

New Atlanticist
Jul 28, 2025

Trump and von der Leyen made a deal. But the US and EU are drifting apart on trade.

Many elements of the Turnberry deal still need to be finalized, and the difficult process could drive the two sides even further apart.

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Ukraine Turns Away from Europe and the West

Fast Thinking
Jul 27, 2025

How big a deal is the new US-EU trade announcement?

By
Atlantic Council

Our experts unpack the framework for a trade deal announced by US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday in Scotland.

Economy & Business
European Union

Ukraine Turns Away from Europe and the West

New Atlanticist
Aug 27, 2025

The US-EU face-off over pharma is on pause—for now

By
Emma Nix

Both Europe and the United States would benefit from working together to secure affordable and accessible pharmaceutical supply chains.

Economy & Business
European Union

Featured events

Online Event
Thu, July 31, 2025 • 11:00 am ET

Unpacking the new US-EU trade deal

Experts discuss the new agreement announced on Sunday and what it means for transatlantic trade going forward.

Economy & Business
Europe & Eurasia
European Union
Trade and tariffs


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


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.

Read More

New Atlanticist

Talking past each other: Why the US-EU dispute over ‘free speech’ is set to escalate

by Kenneth Propp

Republican-led US lawmakers and the White House are likely just getting started in critiquing the European Union’s Digital Services Act.

In-depth Research & reports

Ukraine Turns Away from Europe and the West

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

Ukraine Turns Away from Europe and the West

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

Ukraine Turns Away from Europe and the West

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

New Atlanticist

Dec 1, 2011

Ukraine Turns Away from Europe and the West

By Taras Kuzio

The incarceration of Yulia Tymoshenko has temporarily halted and may permanently terminate Ukraine’s integration with Europe.

European Union International Organizations

NATOSource

Nov 30, 2011

EU announces projects for pooled defense capabilities

By  Sebastian Moffett and David Brunnstrom. Reuters

From Sebastian Moffett and David Brunnstrom. Reuters:  EU defence ministers agreed on Wednesday to pool resources in 11 defence fields ranging from mid-air refuelling to field hospitals, hoping to shore up European capabilities despite severe budget pressure. The projects are designed to make EU nations – which traditionally have nurtured separate military forces and industries – […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Nov 30, 2011

Time to Let Macedonia Play with the Big Boys

By Metodija A. Koloski and Mark Branov

Rarely has a country’s standing in the community of nations collapsed as quickly as that of Greece.

Economy & Business European Union

New Atlanticist

Nov 29, 2011

As America Pivots to Asia, Where’s Europe?

By Kurt Volker

As America turns its attention to Asia, how should the relationship between the US and Europe develop? Both sides can work to bridge the gap.

Economy & Business European Union

New Atlanticist

Nov 28, 2011

Does Germany Really Want to Save the Euro?

By Julian Lindley-French

Does Germany really want to save the Euro? The great Austrian strategist Count Metternich once famously said that when Paris sneezes, Europe catches cold. Today, he would probably substitute Berlin for Paris.

Economy & Business European Union

NATOSource

Nov 26, 2011

Turkey ready to take action with Arab powers to stop Syria bloodshed

By Simon Cameron-Moore, Reuters

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Nov 24, 2011

Eurozone Crisis Hits Germany

By James Joyner

“The debt crisis is burrowing ever deeper, like a worm, and is now reaching Germany,” says Free Democrat Party backbencher Frank Schaeffler, a member of Angela Merkel’s governing coalition. Indeed, the country that all are looking to to save the Eurozone from collapse is now in big trouble. Germany fell short in its attempt to sell […]

Economy & Business European Union

NATOSource

Nov 23, 2011

EU faces warship shortage for Somali piracy mission

By David Brunnstrom, Reuters

From David Brunnstrom, Reuters:  The European Union is short of warships for its counter-piracy mission off Somalia and is unlikely the fill the gap until March given economic constraints, the top EU military officer said on Tuesday.

Economy & Business European Union

New Atlanticist

Nov 21, 2011

Dead Politics: Europe’s Enemy Within

By Julian Lindley-French

One of the great doyens of nineteenth century British foreign policy Lord Salisbury could turn a phrase or two. Speaking of Britain in the 1870s he may well of been speaking of Europe (and the British bit of it) today when he said “…the commonest error in politics lies in sticking to the carcases of […]

European Union Germany

NATOSource

Nov 21, 2011

Does Turkey see itself as a power broker between NATO and China?

By Gökhan Bacik, Zaman

From Gökhan Bacik, Zaman:  It would not be wrong to describe the huge area from Spain to eastern Turkey, including North Africa, as the “NATO zone.” NATO is the most important rule-maker in this large geographical area.

European Union International Organizations
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Experts

Fellow

Gérard Araud

Distinguished Fellow

Europe Center

English Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Tyson Barker

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

Cybersecurity Digital Policy

Staff

James Batchik

Associate Director

Europe Center

Central Europe Digital Policy

Expert

Olivier-Rémy Bel

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Fellow

Jochai Ben-Avie

Nonresident Fellow

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Americas Digital Policy

Fellow

Andrew Bernard

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

NATO Europe & Eurasia
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Events

Flagship Event Tue, September 30, 2025 • 2:45 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