From what I understand, the whole point of the EU is to economically compete with large markets like the US, China, Southeast Asia.  Slice it anyway you want, but that is why countries want to join. Not mutual defense.

As to the U.S., the government fostered western expansion, not identity.  America is unique in that indiviual achievement, individual freedeom and individual prosperity is the founding cornerstone.  That is what Americans see as their identity.

It's not because Truman fosters suburbization, or because the government told people to go west or because Eisenhower installed the national highway system.  Americans dont say their american because of Conrail or Route 80. It is because we believe in economic and individual freedom.

Europe by contrast just got around to getting itself free in the last 100 years. Most a lot less. So, there has never been much autonomous freedom of the individual or much economic opportunity for individuals.  FOr the most, part Europe's experience has been completely totalitarian.  England is probably the only real exception.  Therefore, you have a band of elites who think they are smarter than the other europeans and want to control them through socialistic mechanisms.  That's at least how I see the EU.  Most of what I have read here only confirms that suspician.

Terry