Launched in 2004,the association pursues the goal of furthering the German-American friendship. It achieves this through an honest exchange between the civil societies on both sides of the Atlantic. Based in Germany, the association convenes diverse actors around various issues. From within the middle of the society, it explores differences, commonalities and room for cooperative solutions between German and American interests and approaches. We believe that various challenges – from economic crises to counteracting terrorism – can only be solved through close cooperation.

Engagement, openness, and pragmatism are our key to success. For this, we take in broad input, host various events and projects throughout the year, and count on academic expertise as well as practical experience from everyday. We are convinced that close transatlantic bonds have an important value, but we also want to see this conviction confirmed or challenged. We want to read, learn and listen in order to understand your view, your ideas and your concerns. And we want you to engage with others and discuss.

Thus, in 2007, the Atlantic-community.org became the first online foreign policy think tank, is primarily focused on issues affecting transatlantic relations, and member-driven. Our community of over 9,000 members encourages everyone, regardless of geographic location, to have a say on issues impacting the transatlantic community. We especially want to provide a voice for a new generation of thinkers and young leaders, giving them the opportunity to publish and debate side by side with established experts, and to have their policy ideas seen by senior officials. This gives our members real political influence, while decision-makers benefit from the next generation’s fresh ideas.

Throughout the years, we also hold Policy Workshop Competitions where the winners got to present their ideas in person to government officials, as well as Q&As that allow members to ask direct questions of senior policy makers.

In 2016 and 2017, we invited 30 young fellows to engage in our Atlantic Expedition. The first Expedition took place in Germany in spring 2017. Participants joined an online discussion, a memo workshop, and a joint trip to Hamburg, Dresden, and Berlin to exchange ideas, network, develop policy recommendations, and create an analytical memo titled “Transatlantic Relations in a New Era: The Next Generation Approach”,

Fellows of the second cohort joined forces in the summer of 2017 to develop new strategies for communicating transatlantic relations to a diverse audience and making the transatlantic relationship more inclusive. Teams collaborated online to develop their respective project proposals and memo drafts, regularly joining feedback sessions with their peers. In October 2017, participants joined a trip to Chicago and Houston. This group produced the strategic memo “Towards a More Inclusive Transatlantic Partnership.”

Results from both Expeditions have been compiled in an Atlantic Action Plan and were presented during the Atlantic Bascecamp in Berlin in April 2018. Fifteen representatives of each Expedition convened to network, connect with today’s and tomorrow’s transatlantic leaders, present and discuss recommendations of both groups, explore Berlin and take in the many cultural landmarks the city has to offer.

Now, in 2020 a new generation has taken over. With the goal of equipping the transatlantic partnership for the future, this new board of young people encourages open dialogue on all levels of society. We want to explore what the Germans expect from the transatlantic relationship. We want to know where the Americans and Germans agree and disagree. We want to know, where our interests align. And together, we want to find solutions which enable us to shape the transatlantic relationship of the 21st century.