The Atlantic Council promotes dialogue on the major issues facing the U.S.-European and U.S.-Eurasian relationship. At the heart of its work is the conviction that a healthy dialogue is an essential prerequisite for progress in organizing a stronger international system. The Council seeks to strengthen transatlantic ties by addressing specific areas of policy difference and by building the personal networks that form the basis for cooperation between current and future leaders.
The Council gives special emphasis to the changing nature of the European Union as an international actor and to the role of the transatlantic partnership in addressing relations with China, Russia, Turkey, and the Ukraine, the regional conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, and the international challenges of the 21st century. The Council assesses the ongoing complexity of maintaining a healthy and relevant transatlantic Alliance with the capabilities it needs to address a full range of threats, including terrorism.
Projects
Cooperation between Russia and the West — seeks to analyze and address the potential for cooperation between Russia and “the West” as well as among the transatlantic community vis-à-vis Russia. Atlantic Council efforts in this area consider steps that the United States and Europe might take together to foster integration of Russia into the West and looks for ways to build cooperation between the United States, the European Union, and Russia in such foreign policy areas as antiterrorism, nonproliferation, and building stability in the wider Middle East.
Strengthening U.S. Security Alliances – while international alliances have long been the bedrock of U.S. security, growing threats to that security present difficult challenges for traditional approaches to military alliances.
Strategic Regional Assessments — evaluates both the strategic importance of particular regions and the challenges they are likely to pose over the next decade, while discerning case-specific strategies for the realization of U.S. goals.
U.S.-Ukraine Policy Dialogue Exchange Program — aims to build networks among policymakers in Ukraine and the United States, and to promote a bilateral dialogue in key areas of policy reform. The Atlantic Council serves as the coordinating organization for the “Foreign Policy & National Security” task force within the U.S.-Ukraine Policy Dialogue Exchange Program. The task force has concluded a first round of meetings in Washington, DC and is preparing for the next session to be held in Kiev, Ukraine, in the fall 2005.
Turkey faces its Future - The Council’s project on U.S.-EU-Turkish relations undertakes to examine Turkey’s progress toward accession to the European Union and identify policy options for the United States. In addition, this project intends to review U.S. policy concerning the Cyprus issue in light of the impending decision regarding Turkish membership in the EU; and explore the long-term implications of Turkish membership in the EU for U.S-Turkish and U.S.-EU relations, as well as for NATO-EU relations and for transatlantic cooperation generally.
Faculty Briefing Programs — When funding is available, the Council organizes study- tours to Brussels for U.S. faculty who teach relevant courses. Each time, 14-18 professors participate in briefings at NATO, the European Union institutions, and the U.S. Missions to NATO and the EU.
Pan-Atlantic Student Summit — brings together students from throughout the Euro-Atlantic area to participate in a conference held in conjunction with official NATO summits.
Young Leaders Programs — provides experiential opportunities to young leaders through conferences, simulations, and seminars in Europe and North America.
