Then there is the whole Airbus and BAE systems merger, which was based on the need of cooperation to compete against the likes of Boeing.

There were also the times where competition reaches such a level, everything underneath it collapses, as you said yourself "divide and rule". A Non-united Europe is easier to have dominance over than an United Europe. You have the Eastern Bloc countries in particular under the sway of Russia, then the more Western under the sway of America, where Britain is seen as America's lapdog.

I agree. A corrupt unaccountable European government is a disaster-waiting-to-happen though what is really ironic, most of the unaccountability of Europe is down to the euro-sceptics who refuse to allow the creation of a legitimate European government. Most of the bureaucracy is built around protecting individual interest opposed to collective interest. I said in the beginning of the Euro that this was the big draw back as there was no political enforcement as there was no political will, the political will in place ran along the lines of "have your cake and eat it".