Europe & Transatlantic Relations

The end of the Cold War ended the state of affairs in which the transatlantic alliance was taken for granted. Having entered a new phase of transatlantic relations, which shared interests and values will connect us in the future? How does the transatlantic alliance adapt to a world in which economic and political leverage is shifting rapidly?

While still in the process of finding its role as a geopolitical actor, the consolidation and enlargement of the European Union has already started to change Europe’s global role in fundamental ways. In the future, the EU can be expected to increasingly consolidate its foreign policy by taking on tasks formerly conducted by NATO or the US. We believe that a transatlantic partnership is indispensible to meet the global nature of today’s political, economic and security challenges.

Our Latest

Mapping and Evaluating U.S.-German Exchange Programs, 2020–2025

Report

Our new study maps how U.S.–German exchange programs have evolved from 2020–2025, revealing disrupted funding, shifting political pressures, innovative new models, and urgent recommendations to strengthen democratic ties across the Atlantic.

Timothy Wright

The Women, Peace and Security Agenda in Ukraine Is A Case of Unexpected Progress

Analysis

Ukrainian women have become indispensable in national defense and resilience, reshaping gender norms and taking on critical roles. Without direct support for local women’s groups, their impact risks being undermined by structural exclusion.

Mariia Kurinna

Western Balkans: Feminist Peacebuilding Demands Rethinking the Structures

Analysis

In an age marked by rising authoritarianism and anti-gender backlash, feminist peace in the Western Balkans stands as both an act of resistance and a re-imagining of security itself. The Women, Peace and Security Agenda needs to be reviewed.

Zorana Antonijević, Ph.D.

How Europe Can Defend Itself with Less America

Report

Europe must urgently rethink defense, handling five key tasks in case the US significantly reduces its European military footprint. European leaders can make the choices necessary to fill the gaps by following this blueprint.

Max Bergmann, Otto Svendsen

Phalanx of defence pacts? Mapping bilateral defence partnerships in Europe

Böll EU Brief

Europe’s defence map is being redrawn. Our new Böll EU Brief tracks over 160 defence partnerships signed since 2014 among EU countries, the UK and Ukraine – most of them after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Bilateralism boosts trust, interoperability and procurement speed, but also risks duplication and fragmentation. To turn this patchwork into strategy, the EU and NATO should map and integrate these deals into joint planning, strengthen the European Defence Agency’s role, and use bilaterals to offset declining US support.

Roderick Kefferpütz, Anika Bruck

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Teresa Eder

Program Director, Foreign & Security Policy

Program