A Marathon EU Summit: Compromise and Concessions

After  days and nights of negotiations at the longest EU Summit in 20 years, European leaders announced that they had reached agreement regarding a $857 billion pandemic recovery plan. Leaving perhaps her final mark on the European Union, Chancellor Angela Merkel was instrumental in achieving European consensus regarding this new plan.   Join us Thursday, July...

Fighting the Pandemic and Balancing Economic, Social, and Health Challenges in Europe and the United States

After Germany's first confirmed COVID-19 case was documented near Munich, Bavaria was forced to take up the fight against the pandemic. Confronted with high infection rates and located in close proximity to Austria and northern Italy, Bavaria had to act swiftly to prevent a health care disaster. But, as the chair of the Ministers-President Conference,...

China: A Common Transatlantic Challenge

Late last week, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a controversial speech about engagement with China in the past, present, and future – and called upon democratic and free societies to stand up to an increasingly authoritarian and internationally assertive China. Europe has been directly – and indirectly – affected by increasing rivalry between...

The Impact of the Proposed US Military Drawdown – for Germany and Beyond”

Last week, U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper announced the drawdown of nearly 12,000 U.S. troops from Germany. This decision will have a significant impact on the security of Europe - and has the potential to change the dynamic of the German-American partnership. Join us on Monday, August 3 at 11:00 am ET for an online discussion...

From Structural Change to COVID-19: Sustainable Strategies from Dortmund and Pittsburgh

Cities that were built on iron, steel, and coal have had to overcome deep economic challenges and structural changes in recent decades. Both Dortmund and Pittsburgh have rebuilt themselves as thriving metropolises. However, the spread of COVID-19 is forcing cities to confront a new set of challenges. Three months ago, the ACG discussed the impact of the...