Transatlantic relations

Europe’s defence landscape is shifting fast. Our new Böll EU Brief maps more than 160 defence agreements among EU countries, the UK and Ukraine – most signed since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It shows how bilateral cooperation boosts trust and speed, but also risks fragmentation without an EU-level strategy.

A potential U.S. force posture reduction in Europe will leave the continent vulnerable to further Russian aggression. Europe needs a bold action plan to mitigate capability gaps and ensure deterrence of Russia with limited U.S. involvement.

Europe and Canada can only protect their digital ecosystems against US interference if they start investing in tech sovereignty now.

The Trump Administration’s new budget law is a back door to implementing major portions of the MAGA agenda. It could become one of the most destructive, anti-climate, anti-poor, and anti-working class pieces of legislation in US history and risks the country’s long-term economic stability. What's in it for the EU?

Donald Trump is back in the White House and with him, a foreign policy that openly questions the sovereignty of allies, undermines democratic values, challenges European security commitments, and disrupts established trade relations. The European Union now faces a stark reality: The United States, once the guarantor of Europe’s security, prosperity, and democracy, has become its saboteur. How should the EU respond to this shifting landscape? Roderick Kefferpütz interviews Green MEP Sergey Lagodinsky.

Transatlantic relations are changing, and with it the EU and Canada are seemingly moving closer. An EU-Canada summit will take place on 23 June 2025, as "an opportunity to enhance the EU-Canada strategic partnership and for leaders to reinforce their cooperation at different levels". Is this a spur of the moment, what is now relevant and what does this mean for the green transition? Anton Möller asked 3 key questions to Achim Hurrelmann, Professor at Carleton University and expert on Canada-Europe relations.

The European Digital Services Act (DSA) lays down new rules for online platforms, seeks to strengthen user rights and intends to hold tech companies to account. But what specific measures does the DSA include and why is it under so much pressure from the new US government and big tech companies?

Trump is back. And so is his erratic shock and awe style of politics. One day he announces tariffs on Mexico and Canada, the day after he puts them on hold. Who knows what he’ll do next. Europe cannot afford to be paralysed by panic, divided by discord or swept up in performative outrage. Instead of being shocked and awed, the EU must stay calm, adapt and – most importantly – act.

The EU still has strong rules for the major digital platforms. However, under Donald Trump and his allies - above all powerful tech CEOs such as Musk and Zuckerberg - the USA is becoming an open opponent of these regulations. 

Brace for impact: Trump is moving full-speed ahead with his reactionary agenda. Signing over 100 executive actions, he has declared the border with Mexico a national emergency, lifted restrictions for oil and gas drilling, withdrawn the US from the Paris Climate agreement and the World Health Organization, weakened AI safety regulation, and more.