Executive Summary

Over a period of two months, NextGen members engaged in surveys, virtual workshops, breakout groups, and moderated discussions on the current state—and possible future for—the transatlantic relationship.  In this report, you will find three things.  First, a summary of the workshop discussions amongst the whole group exploring the key values that underpin the relationship and the key issues that define and challenge Europe and the United States.  Second, you will find key recommendations from the group on four areas they identified as critical to the transatlantic relationship: strengthening democracy, building economic opportunity, increasing sustainability, and leading on issues of technology.  Finally, you will find "NextGen Insights" under each of those four areas, that are comprehensive analyses on a particular recommendation made by the Network. We hope this format allows you to get both the 30,000-foot picture as well as a deep dive on a particular policy area that could be improved now.

At the outset, here are four takeaways from the groups’ time together and the central recommendation for each of the four priority issue areas.  

1. Continued interest in the transatlantic relationship

According to our cohort of young leaders, the transatlantic relationship remains the most important bilateral relationship for both the United States and European Union. They are optimistic and hopeful about the future of the transatlantic union, describing it as a “family.” Despite their continued interest in the transatlantic relationship, the NextGen Network expects threats like the rise of authoritarianism to challenge this special friendship.

2. Shared values, different approaches

Through workshop discussion and attitude surveys, the NextGen Network demonstrated clear commitment to liberal democratic values across the transatlantic relationship. Democracy, the rule of law, and human rights remain shared values, but members of the network expressed concerns about accountability for upholding said values, especially given democratic backsliding in both Europe and the United States. 

3. Sustainability and technology are the key issues

Our network of leaders identified sustainability and technology as the priority issues for the future of the transatlantic relationship. Significant concerns about climate change were shared across the Atlantic, as was interest in technological leadership.  

4. Focus on bilateralism 

The next generation of leaders placed surprisingly low value in multilateralism, preferring bilateral approaches to shared issues. The preferred bilateral approach is on a U.S.-EU basis, but nation-to-nation bilateral dialogues and coordination were also met with support.

Recommendations

The NextGen Network examined four key issues in the transatlantic relationship and drafted five recommendations for improvement in each issue area. These critical focus areas were chosen as the most important issues facing the United States and Europe and their unique relationship.  They are: Strengthening Democracy, Building Economic Opportunity, Increasing Sustainability, and Developing Technology.