Western Europe

FEATURED COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

#AtlanticDebrief – What are the futures for Ireland? | A Debrief with Mary Lou McDonald

New Atlanticist Oct 2, 2024

A man in a hurry: Keir Starmer’s early approach is making waves at home and abroad

By Ed Owen

The new UK prime minister’s much-anticipated speech at the Labour Party’s recent gathering in Liverpool is a window into where the country may be headed.

Economy & Business Elections

New Atlanticist Oct 2, 2024

Three state elections have backed Germany into a corner

By Jurek Wille and Friedrich Conradi

The recent successes of populist parties in Germany’s state elections could signal an imminent shift in Berlin’s policies on climate, immigration, and aid for Ukraine.

Elections Germany

New Atlanticist Sep 26, 2024

France’s new government aims to calm the political storm. What will it mean for foreign policy?

By Léonie Allard, Jean-Loup Samaan

Prime Minister Michel Barnier is likely to follow the path of President Emmanuel Macron, but the big question is whether the delicate political context in Paris will allow ministers to focus on crises in Ukraine and Lebanon.

Europe & Eurasia France

EVENTS

Public Event Tue, May 27, 2025 • 9:00 am ET

The Rt Hon Lord Mandelson on Britain in an enduring transatlantic relationship

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy Security & Defense

Public Event Tue, May 6, 2025 • 12:30 pm ET

Belgium’s defense minister on Europe’s evolving security landscape

Europe & Eurasia NATO Security & Defense Western Europe

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

Atlantic Debrief

Mar 16, 2023

#AtlanticDebrief – What are the futures for Ireland? | A Debrief with Mary Lou McDonald

Rachel Rizzo sits down with Mary Lou McDonald, President of Ireland’s Sinn Féin party and Leader of the Opposition in the Dáil to discuss the Good Friday Agreement, the Windsor Framework, and Ireland's future.

Conflict Europe & Eurasia

Event Recap

Mar 14, 2023

The energy and climate challenge: How Europe can achieve decarbonization

By Transform Europe Initiative

The Atlantic Council proudly co-hosted with the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) “A Grand Bargain for Europe’s energy and climate challenge,” a workshop on the European Union’s energy and climate policy from a geopolitical perspective.

Energy Markets & Governance European Union

New Atlanticist

Mar 14, 2023

What’s next for the US-UK-Australia submarine partnership?

By Atlantic Council experts

Dive into the details of the AUKUS submarine partnership just announced in San Diego by US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Australia Defense Technologies

Experts react

Feb 27, 2023

Experts react: Will a new deal on Northern Ireland repair UK-EU relations?

By Atlantic Council experts

What would the deal mean for regional trade and diplomacy? What does it say about Sunak’s approach to foreign policy? Our experts ship off their answers.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Issue Brief

Feb 27, 2023

Toward a trilateral Atlantic-Pacific community for the twenty-first century

By Ash Jain

As the world approaches a new era of strategic competition with revisionist autocracies, the existing transatlantic political, economic, and security entities need to be further expanded to build a trilateral Atlantic-Pacific community.

Europe & Eurasia Indo-Pacific

New Atlanticist

Feb 27, 2023

One year later, Germany’s ‘Zeitenwende’ is still under construction

By Roderick Kefferpütz

While Germany has made progress, doubts remain about whether Chancellor Olaf Scholz is truly undertaking a structural and mentality change in foreign and security policy.

Conflict Crisis Management

New Atlanticist

Feb 23, 2023

Zeiten-when? Scholz needs to stop standing in the way of Germany’s foreign-policy turning point.

By Noah DeMichele

The Zeitenwende is the chancellor’s brainchild, yet he has been its major roadblock. Scholz has habitually hesitated when faced with key decisions.

Conflict Defense Industry

In the News

Feb 21, 2023

Tantardini in Longitude on European Space Capabilties

By Atlantic Council

On February 1, FD Nonresident Senior Fellow Marco Tantardini was featured in Longitude magazine. His article stressed the increasing importance of space launch capability for European nations.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Bohdan, 'Fritz', the unit commander's deputy in the 79th Air Assault Brigade, fires a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) towards Russian positions on a front line near the town of Marinka, in the middle of the Russia attack on Ukraine, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 14, 2023. REUTERS/Marko Djurica

New Atlanticist

Feb 17, 2023

Russian War Report: Failed Russian push on Vuhledar results in losses as Moscow increases troops

By Digital Forensic Research Lab

Vuhledar, a town connecting the northern and southern flanks, has been under an unsuccessful attack from Russian forces for two weeks.

Conflict Corruption

New Atlanticist

Feb 10, 2023

TotalEnergies’ CEO: Europe should pass its own green subsidies to compete with the US

By Katherine Golden

Patrick Pouyanné said at an Atlantic Council event that the US took advantage of an “opportunity” in the energy transition by passing the IRA, so “let’s do the same in Europe.”

Africa Brazil