FEATURED COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

EU ‘Must be More Transparent’

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

EU ‘Must be More Transparent’

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

EU ‘Must be More Transparent’

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

Online Event
Tue, May 6, 2025 • 10:00 am ET

What to expect from Germany’s next government

Elections
Europe & Eurasia
European Union
Germany

Online Event
Tue, February 25, 2025 • 9:00 am ET

Debriefing Germany’s federal elections

Elections
European Union
Germany
Politics & Diplomacy

Program

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

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Content

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Bremain vs Brexit

Jun 24, 2016

EU ‘Must be More Transparent’

By Ashish Kumar Sen

We asked our experts to tell us what the EU needs to do differently in light of the referendum. This is what they had to say: Fran Burwell is vice president, European Union and Special Initiatives, at the Atlantic Council. There are two things that the EU needs to do to change. First, it needs […]

Europe & Eurasia European Union

Bremain vs Brexit

Jun 24, 2016

Europe’s Soul-Searching Moment

By Ana Palacio

There is an old rule in lawyering, never ask a question if you are not certain of the answer. Three years ago, in a selfish gambit to solidify his personal mandate for a second term as prime minister, David Cameron did just that. His reward: thirteen extra months in 10 Downing Street entirely consumed by […]

Europe & Eurasia European Union

Bremain vs Brexit

Jun 24, 2016

Brexit a Boon for Europe’s Far-Right Populists

By Alina Polyakova

The United Kingdom’s vote to leave the European Union will provide a massive boost to the isolationist, anti-immigrant, and eurosceptic policies of Europe’s far-right political parties.

European Union France

UkraineAlert

Jun 22, 2016

Now’s the Time to Block Nord Stream 2 and Step Up Ukraine’s Energy Diplomacy

By Olga Bielkova

Ukraine—a country that rejected aggression and militarization when it broke away from the Soviet Union—is fighting three wars today: the front in the east against an expansionist power, the battle within to defeat cronyism and corruption, and an economic war to reorient trade flows and modernize its economy. The world’s attention, as well as that […]

European Union Germany

Defense Industrialist

May 31, 2016

State secretaries on supply and demand

By James Hasik

Learnings on comparative defense-industrial strategy during lunch two NATO defense ministry officials Last week the Atlantic Council hosted senior defense-industrial officials from Germany and Turkey for discussions about their evolving plans. Taking the time to reread their biographies, we remembered that some of NATO’s member states are clearly finding accomplished people to run military materiel […]

Defense Industry Germany
President of the BfV Hans-Georg Maassen, July 17, 2012

NATOSource

May 13, 2016

German Intelligence Accuses Russia of Mounting Series of International Cyber-Attacks

By AFP, Deutsche Welle, and Reuters

From AFP:  Germany’s domestic secret service has accused Russia of a series of international cyber-attacks aimed at spying and sabotage, in “hybrid warfare” that also targeted the German parliament last year.

Cybersecurity Germany
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin, May 10, 2015

NATOSource

May 12, 2016

Russia’s Hybrid Warfare is Harming Germany

By Ruth Forsyth

Among the multiple crises currently taking place on the European continent, another serious threat has been unfolding. Russia is actively seeking to harm and destabilize Germany.

Germany Russia
German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, March 23, 2016

NATOSource

May 10, 2016

Germany to Boost Troop Numbers for First Time Since Cold War

By Stefan Wagstyl, Financial Times

Germany is to raise troop numbers for the first time since the cold war in response to growing international challenges, including Islamist terrorism, instability in Africa, cyber attack threats and Russia’s newfound assertiveness.

Germany NATO
NATO exercise in Baltic Sea, May 29, 2015

NATOSource

May 6, 2016

The Case for a More Robust NATO Presence in the Baltic Sea

By Franklin D. Kramer and Magnus Nordenman

NATO has also begun to plan and exercise for maritime contingencies in the region, with additional bilateral and national exercises as complements.

France Germany

In the News

Apr 19, 2016

Polyakova Quoted by Bloomberg on Russia’s Involvement in the Increase in Popularity of Right Wing Parties in Germany

By Alina Polyakova

Read the full article here.

Germany Russia
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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
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