Southern and Southeastern Europe

Southern and Southeastern Europe

Southern and Southeastern Europe play a critical role in the transatlantic community, given their close proximity to the EU’s Southern Neighborhood and NATO’s Southern Flank. The region has faced significant economic challenges in recent years, along with an influx of migrants and foreign interference. While these concerns persist in some countries, the region has seen rapid economic growth, a revival of democratic institutions, and new opportunities for leadership in major international organizations.

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Is Austerity to Blame for the Collapse of the Political center in the European Union?

Report Nov 10, 2025

Italy’s policy on China: The Belt and Road gamble and its aftermath

By Valbona Zeneli

From the Silk Road to the Belt and Road Initiative, Italy’s relationship with China has shifted from early enthusiasm to cautious recalibration. Once Europe’s gateway for Beijing’s ambitions, Rome now frames its China policy around transatlantic solidarity, balancing economic opportunity with strategic prudence.
China Economy & Business
Is Austerity to Blame for the Collapse of the Political center in the European Union?

Report Nov 10, 2025

Greece’s policy on China: Debt-era deals and recalibration

By Valbona Zeneli

From the port of Piraeus to Brussels, Greece’s China policy has evolved from enthusiastic engagement and post-crisis dependency to strategic caution. Today, Athens’s is balancing economic pragmatism with transatlantic security commitments.
China Economy & Business
Is Austerity to Blame for the Collapse of the Political center in the European Union?

Report May 20, 2025

The European Union Growth Plan for the Western Balkans: A reality test for EU enlargement

By Valbona Zeneli, Richard Grieveson, Isabelle Ioannides, Dimitar Bechev

EU enlargement faces a test case in the Western Balkans. The current plan offers real benefits before accession, creating incentives for reform, but questions of enforceability and the relatively low amount of financial support threaten the success of the EU’s political influence in the region.
Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Program

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

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Content

EconoGraphics

Feb 10, 2015

Is Austerity to Blame for the Collapse of the Political center in the European Union?

By Global Business & Economics Program

Radical political parties in the Eurozone—including Syriza in Greece, Podemos in Spain, and Sinn Féin in Ireland—are riding a wave of popularity. The continent’s debt crisis has pitted the creditor countries, most importantly Germany, against debtor countries like Greece. On an international level, the northern European creditors have managed to implement policies that are forcing […]

Economy & Business European Union

In the News

Feb 9, 2015

Herbst on Russia’s Deal with Cyprus

By John Herbst

Newsweek quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Director John Herbst on the talks between Cyprus and Russia that would allow the Russian military to use the island nation’s sea and airports:

Russia Southern & Southeastern Europe
Spanish paratroopers in Afghanistan, Sept. 27, 2008

NATOSource

Feb 5, 2015

Spain to Lead New NATO Spearhead Force in 2016

By Naftali Bendavid, Wall Street Journal

Six European countries said Thursday they would rotate the leadership of NATO’s new rapid-response force, and the U.S. pledged to contribute intelligence, airlift capacity and other key support.

NATO Security & Defense
Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos and Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Feb. 4, 2015

NATOSource

Feb 4, 2015

Greek Defense Minister Reassures NATO Over Russia Ties

By AFP

Greece’s new government remains committed to its NATO role despite close ties with Russia that have worried its allies, Defense Minister Panos Kammenos told AFP on Wednesday.

Greece NATO
Patriot missile system deployed in Turkey

NATOSource

Jan 28, 2015

Spanish Patriot Missiles in Turkey Now Operational

By NATO

Spanish troops joined NATO’s Patriot anti-ballistic missile deployment in Adana, Turkey on Monday (26 January 2015), replacing a Dutch unit which had been stationed there since January 2013.

Missile Defense NATO
US Abrams tanks at Grafenwöhr, Germany

NATOSource

Jan 27, 2015

US Examining Sites in Eastern Europe for Pre-Positioning 220 Armored Vehicles

By John Vandiver and Michael Darnell, Stars and Stripes

U.S. Army Europe will soon dispatch a survey team to eastern Europe to scout locations for tanks and other military hardware as part of a broader effort to bolster the U.S. military presence in a region rattled by Russia’s intervention in Ukraine, the Army’s top commander in Europe said Friday.

Central Europe NATO

New Atlanticist

Jan 26, 2015

Europe after QE and the Greek Elections: Time for Growth?

By Dante Roscini

Late January has seen two important, highly-anticipated events unfold in Europe: the announcement by the European Central Bank of a large-scale Quantitative Easing program and the results of the Greek general election. In the first — and by far the more important of the two — the ECB, faced with disinflation bordering on deflation, finally […]

Greece

New Atlanticist

Jan 26, 2015

Greek Election Outcome May Stoke Tensions in Europe

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Leftist Syriza’s victory likely to roil debate over austerity, fiscal discipline, Montanino says The victory of an anti-austerity leftist party in Greece’s elections may roil the debate in Europe over questions of austerity and fiscal discipline, says Atlantic Council analyst Andrea Montanino. Alexis Tsipras was sworn in as Greece’s new prime minister on January 26 […]

Greece
Gen. Martin Dempsey, Jan. 6, 2012

NATOSource

Jan 20, 2015

Dempsey: Terrorism and Russian Aggression Threaten European Security

By Lisa Ferdinando, DoD News

Terrorism and Russian aggression are two “very distinct threats” to European security, according to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Europe & Eurasia Italy
Members of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, April 24, 2013

NATOSource

Jan 9, 2015

Report: US Seeks Permanent Deal to Base Additional Troops in Spain

By Hope Hodge Seck, Military Times

The Defense Department is seeking an agreement that would allow Marines with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa to be permanently stationed in Morón, Spain, according to a report from the Spanish newspaper El Pais.

Southern & Southeastern Europe United States and Canada
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Experts

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Inês Bravo Figueiredo

Co-President, Volt Portugal

Millennium Leadership Program

Central Europe Economy & Business

Fellow

Giangiacomo Calovini

Nonresident Senior Fellow, North Africa Program

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

English Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Julie Chon

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoEconomics Center

Americas China

Fellow

Gavin Clough

2023-24 Senior US Navy Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Policy Eastern Europe

Fellow

Jonathan R. Cohen

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Greece Iraq

Fellow

Dario Cristiani

Nonresident Senior Fellow, North Africa Program

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic English
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