The US and Germany have shared narratives that bind them together and define a unified national character - the only unifying narrative across Europe is the fight to prevent the spread of Islam, otherwise European history is one of conflict and constantly shifting Alliances.
The Germans and the Brits and the Dutch beat Napoleon, The Brits the French and the Poles and Czechs beat Hitler...
There isn't a common narrative until you go back to Ancient Rome, and that doesn't include the Germans.
The current talk of "irreversible" Union is historically myopic because there will be another war in Europe, it is just a question of when.
The question of countering China is a valid one, and it is worth pointing out that European politics meant that the initial response to Napoleon, Lenin, and Hitler was woefully inadequate, but it remains a fact that co-operation does not require Union and that enforced Union is not a good idea because a House Divided will fall. Better in that case for Europe to be many houses instead of one.
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