FEATURED COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

Taking Stock of European Banks: Improvements Amid Challenges

New Atlanticist May 6, 2025

Is Merz’s double-take chancellor vote a sign of things to come in Germany?

By Jörn Fleck and Jurek Wille

It took two rounds of voting in the Bundestag to elect Friedrich Merz chancellor, a sign of division unprecedented in modern German history.
Defense Policy Elections
Taking Stock of European Banks: Improvements Amid Challenges

New Atlanticist Feb 19, 2025

Germany’s economy has gone from engine to anchor. Here’s what the next chancellor faces.

By Piotr Arak

Revitalizing growth in Germany’s economy, which appears increasingly mired in stagnation, will demand urgent action from the next chancellor.
Economy & Business Elections
Taking Stock of European Banks: Improvements Amid Challenges

New Atlanticist Feb 4, 2025

The next German chancellor must lead from the front, not the middle, on European security

By Rachel Rizzo, James Batchik

From support for Ukraine to defense spending, German leaders would be wise to take the phrase Führung aus der Mitte permanently out of their vocabulary.
Elections Germany

Events

Public Event Thu, July 24, 2025 • 8:45 am ET

Germany’s digital minister on Europe’s digital competitiveness
Digital Policy Economy & Business Germany
Online Event Tue, May 6, 2025 • 10:00 am ET

What to expect from Germany’s next government
Elections Europe & Eurasia European Union Germany

Program

The Europe Center promotes the transatlantic leadership and strategies required to ensure a strong Europe.

EXPLORE THE PROGRAM

Content

EconoGraphics

Jul 12, 2016

Taking Stock of European Banks: Improvements Amid Challenges

By Nathaniel Rome

Since the British referendum, Europe’s banking sector has come under renewed scrutiny from financial markets as well as European Union officials and finance ministers. A primary focus is on Italy - which has accumulated $400 billion in gross bad loans - and the EU-Italy talks about how to recapitalize the weak Italian banks.

Economy & Business European Union
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Polish President Andrzej Duda, July 8, 2016 (photo: NATO)

NATOSource

Jul 12, 2016

Does Restraint Make Germany an Unreliable Ally?

By Jan Techau, Carnegie Europe

[German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter] Steinmeier rightfully describes how Germany has already come a long way in its foreign policy.

Germany NATO

In the News

Jul 11, 2016

Cohen Joins VOA Russia to Discuss the Seventy-Fifth Anniversary of the German Attack on Russia

By Ariel Cohen

Watch the full interview here.

Germany Russia
A US B-52, two Polish F-16s, two German Eurofighters, four Swedish Gripens, and four US F-16s, June 14, 2016

NATOSource

Jul 2, 2016

NATO Summit Special Series: United States

By Kori Schake

If it feels like NATO is perpetually preparing for or having a summit meeting, that is true.

Germany NATO
German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, June 18, 2015

NATOSource

Jun 30, 2016

NATO Summit Special Series: Germany

By Tobias Bunde

Although some critics maintain that Berlin could and should do more, Germany’s renewed commitment to NATO and territorial defense has been a welcome surprise to many.

Germany NATO

Bremain vs Brexit

Jun 30, 2016

Wilson Quoted by Politico on US-German Relations Post-Brexit

By Damon Wilson

Read the full article here.

Germany

UkraineAlert

Jun 29, 2016

Now Is Not the Time to Scrap the Minsk Agreement

By John E. Herbst

A Reply to David J. Kramer Editor’s Note: On June 22, Ambassador John Herbst and David J. Kramer debated whether we should bury the Minsk agreement, the troubled ceasefire agreement in Ukraine, at an Atlantic Council event in Washington, DC. Their remarks have been adapted from the debate. Ukraine’s discussion of the war with Russia […]

Germany OSCE

New Atlanticist

Jun 29, 2016

It’s Time to Scrap the Minsk Agreement

By David J. Kramer

Editor’s Note: On June 22, Ambassador John Herbst and David Kramer debated whether we should bury the Minsk agreement, the troubled ceasefire agreement in Ukraine, at an Atlantic Council event in Washington, DC. Their remarks have been adapted from the debate. The Minsk ceasefire agreement, signed February 15, 2015, by the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, […]

Germany OSCE

Bremain vs Brexit

Jun 28, 2016

With Brexit Looming, United States Advised to Forge Ties with Germany, the UK

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Germany has economic and political dominance in Europe, said Atlantic Council board member R. Nicholas Burns In light of the British decision to leave the European Union, US President Barack Obama and his successor must forge a closer bond with Germany and shore up the “special relationship” with the United Kingdom, said R. Nicholas Burns, […]

European Union Germany

UkraineAlert

Jun 27, 2016

The Dangerous Perspective of Theo Sommer

By Alexander J. Motyl

This time, Theo Sommer has outdone himself. After closing his eyes to the mass murders of the Soviet regime in an article published on May 31, the editor-at-large of Germany’s prestigious Die Zeit newspaper has now demonstrated in a just-published piece an alarming ignorance not just of Ukraine but of elementary strategic logic. The former […]

Germany Ukraine
Load More

Experts

Fellow

Nik Foster

Nonresident Fellow

Global China Hub

China Energy & Environment

Fellow

Samuel Denney

Nonresident Fellow

Transatlantic Security Initiative

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

Executive Leadership Intensive participant

Noel Coenraad

Strategy Advisor, Vattenfall AB

Millennium Leadership Program

Energy Transitions Germany

Fellow

Hanna Dohmen

Nonresident Fellow

Global China Hub

China Chinese
Load More