Balkans Forward

Report
Oct 7, 2024

Working on a new transatlantic approach toward the Western Balkans

By
Maja Piscevic, Ilva Tare

The United States and the European Union must work together, and play to their own respective strengths, to prioritize democratic and economic growth and alignment with the West.

Corruption
European Union

Balkans Forward

New Atlanticist
Jul 9, 2024

Dispatch from Madrid: For Spain’s contributions to NATO, look beyond its defense spending

By
Andrew Bernard

While Spain still falls short of its defense spending goals, Madrid nevertheless leads NATO missions, supports Ukraine, and helps guard Europe’s southern flank.

Defense Industry
Defense Policy

Balkans Forward

Issue Brief
Jul 2, 2024

Doing as the Romans do: Recommendations for the infrastructure development agenda for Italy’s G7 presidency

By
James Batchik, Rachel Rizzo, Nicholas O’Connell

The West’s plans for infrastructure development, if done effectively, could be a strategic, economic, and geopolitical feat. The G7 now must take forward meaningful action to increase coordination and cooperation to turn this ambition into reality.

Africa
Economy & Business

Program

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

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Content

Balkans Forward

Nov 7, 2017

Balkans Forward

The Atlantic Council’s Balkans Forward Initiative is a unique, coordinated effort to foster a democratic, secure, and prosperous Western Balkans firmly integrated into the transatlantic community. Our work seeks to reinvigorate US engagement in the region, promote more effective US-European leadership, foster dialogue among key actors across the region, and cultivate a new generation of decision-makers and […]

Europe & Eurasia Southern & Southeastern Europe

In the News

Nov 5, 2017

Ellinas in CyprusMail: Cyprus: The New Energy Gate of Europe

By Charles Ellinas

Read the full article here.

Southern & Southeastern Europe

New Atlanticist

Oct 27, 2017

Spain’s Crisis Sharpens

By Ashish Kumar Sen

The crisis in Spain dramatically escalated on October 27 with Catalonia’s regional parliament declaring independence and the Spanish Senate responding with the approval of unprecedented powers for Madrid to seize control of the autonomous region. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy called an emergency cabinet meeting and could fire Catalan President Carles Puigdemont and his ministers—he […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Oct 25, 2017

European Union Must Defuse Standoff Between Madrid and Catalonia

By George Tsereteli

The time has come for the European Union (EU) to push for a peaceful resolution to the standoff between Madrid and the Catalan separatists. It is highly unlikely that that the separatists will passively acquiesce to the central government’s move to curb Catalan autonomy under Article 155—triggered by Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s cabinet on […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Oct 21, 2017

Another Independence Referendum in Catalonia?

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on October 21 announced his government’s intention to remove the leaders of Catalonia’s regional government and called for elections to be held as soon as possible. “By deciding to hold elections in Catalonia, the Spanish government is essentially calling a repeat referendum on independence in an extremely polarized situation,” said […]

Southern & Southeastern Europe

In the News

Oct 13, 2017

Castello Joins VOA to Discuss the Catalan Separatist Movement

By Carles Castello-Catchot

Listen to the full discussion here.

Southern & Southeastern Europe

In the News

Oct 12, 2017

Bedenbaugh Quoted in NBC News on Foreign Fighters Returning to the Balkans

By Sarah Bedenbaugh

Read the full article here.

The Balkans

New Atlanticist

Oct 11, 2017

In Catalonia, a ‘Coup d’État Masquerading as a Referendum’

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Catalonia’s illegal independence referendum has thrown Spain into turmoil. In light of the escalating tensions, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is now toying with the idea of invoking the never-before-used Article 155 of the Spanish constitution that would suspend Catalonia’s regional autonomy. With a view to taking such action, Rajoy on October 11 asked the […]

European Union International Organizations

UkraineAlert

Oct 11, 2017

The Only Thing Catalonia and Crimea Have in Common Is the Letter C

By Diane Francis

A Bloomberg piece in October titled “Why Catalonia Will Fail Where Crimea Succeeded” by Russian writer Leonid Bershidsky is an example of moral equivalence run amok. He compares two completely unrelated events—referenda in Crimea and Catalonia—as though they bear any similarity, and as though they carry the same moral weight. “The Catalan situation draws comparisons […]

Russia Southern & Southeastern Europe

Event Recap

Oct 5, 2017

Brexit & the New Geopolitical Order – Moving Forward, Charting the Economic Relationship Between the UK, EU and the US

By Global Business & Economics Program

On Thursday, October 5, 2017, the Atlantic Council co-hosted a Brexit seminar, in collaboration with the British American Business Council of Greater Philadelphia.

Economy & Business European Union
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Experts

Staff

Bailey Galicia

Project Assistant

Adrienne Arsht National Security Resilience Initiative GeoStrategy Initiative

Europe & Eurasia Extremism

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Leon Leskovec

Head of Cabinet for Karlo Ressler, Member of the European Parliament

Millennium Leadership Program

Central Europe Politics & Diplomacy

Fellow

Achilles Tsirgis

Visiting Fellow

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Economy & Business European Union

Fellow

Agon Maliqi

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

Albanian Bosnian

Staff

Torrey Taussig

Director

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Eastern Europe Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

David H. Young

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Afghanistan Conflict
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