DEBRIEFING THE US-EU SUMMIT - On Friday, October 20, European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen went to the White House for an official US-EU Summit to showcase the strength of the transatlantic relationship.

Washington and Brussels have both prioritized the transatlantic relationship across a range of policy areas, and the Summit comes at a critical time for the United States and Europe. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine continues into its 20th month, with Ukraine’s counteroffensive relying on much-needed US and European support. Growing concern and alignment on China have led both Washington and Brussels to embrace “de-risking” strategies. And despite the significant improvement in relations, remaining trade irritants over steel and aluminum and green technology subsidies must still be resolved.

The Summit also comes as the political outlook on both sides of the Atlantic becomes increasingly uncertain with elections in the United States and Europe scheduled for next year. The Summit will be an important opportunity to set the relationship on stable footing in light of uncertain political and economic perspectives.

Against this backdrop, the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center will discuss the outcomes of the Summit, debrief its major deliverables, and unpack the implications for the future of the US-EU relationship.

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: 10/24/23