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.

Balkan Ghosts

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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Balkan Ghosts

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

Balkan Ghosts

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

Balkan Ghosts

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

Balkan Ghosts

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

Balkan Ghosts

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

Aug 8, 2011

Balkan Ghosts

By James Stavridis, U.S. European Command

From James Stavridis, U.S. European Command:  Libya and Afghanistan seem to get all the headlines about NATO these days. But lately, I’ve been thinking and working on the Balkans. We need to make sure that the Balkan ghosts of violence from the 1990s don’t reappear.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Aug 8, 2011

Europe’s War Against Ratings Agencies Escalates

By James Joyner

Lost in the hubbub of Standard & Poor’s downgrading the US bond rating is news that the Italian government has the ratings agencies under criminal investigation. The Guardian‘s John Hooper:

European Union International Organizations

NATOSource

Aug 8, 2011

How U.S. sanctions can promote human rights in Russia

By the Editors of the Washington Post

From the Editors of the Washington Post:  Last month the Obama administration disclosed it had taken a significant step toward balancing its policy toward Russia, which has focused heavily on striking deals with the authoritarian regime of Vladi­mir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev while mostly ignoring issues of corruption and human rights.

European Union International Organizations
European Union Map Logo

New Atlanticist

Aug 8, 2011

The Euro-Optimists and Euro-Skeptics – New Division Replaces Old and New Europe?

By Daria Dylla

Recent months have powerfully brought to light that the enthusiasm for the idea of the European Union as a common home without borders is far from internalized by European societies.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Aug 5, 2011

4 Steps Merkel and Sarkozy Should Take Now

By Alexei Monsarrat

Wall Street Journal reports that German chancellor Angela Merkel and French president Nicolas Sarkozy are to speak today “with the ‘current situation in the euro zone’ among the issues to be discussed.”  They have much to talk about.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Aug 4, 2011

The European Union’s Fort Sumter Moment

By Sarwar Kashmeri

In 1776, the founding fathers of the United States made a grand bargain to ensure the birth of a new republic. They agreed to sideline the new country’s black population, even though the Constitution they were about to endorse proclaimed that all men are created equal. This compromise ensured approval of the constitution and the […]

Economy & Business European Union

New Atlanticist

Aug 1, 2011

Slouching Towards a Fiscal Union

By Ben Carliner

It is an old cliché that the European Union only advances in the wake of a crisis. Recently though, it has seemed like every time the EU takes action its response is deemed too little too late.

Economy & Business European Union

NATOSource

Jul 28, 2011

NATO Takes Control of Kosovo Border Crossings

By the AP

From the AP:  American and French peacekeepers took control of two customs posts on Kosovo’s northern border with Serbia on Thursday after they were attacked by Serbs armed with firebombs, a NATO spokesman said. Cpt. Hans Wichter said only small vehicles are now being allowed to pass through the outposts because "the infrastructure is heavily […]

European Union International Organizations

NATOSource

Jul 26, 2011

NATO says deal reached to end Kosovo border crisis

By Nebi Qena, the AP

From Nebi Qena, the AP:  Kosovo’s special police forces that moved into the country’s disputed north overnight to extend the government’s writ at borders with Serbia will withdraw as part of a deal between Kosovo and Serbia and mediated by NATO

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Jul 25, 2011

EU and US Face Economic, Leadership Crises

By James Joyner

European leaders have put another Band Aid on the Greek sovereign debt crisis while America’s leaders are trying to stave off a self-inflicted financial default. Meanwhile, pundits are credulous that the leaders won’t actually lead. Tufts international political economy expert Daniel Drezner notes that this affliction is especially strong among his fellow foreign policy wonks: To those who […]

Economy & Business European Union
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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