Stephanos, it was logical for the American States to form a union. They all shared a common culture, language, political beliefs, and ancestry for the most part. At this time in history, a strong federal state provided a mutually beneficial security force. Europe on the other hand, is a collection of very different languages and cultures. There is no logical basis for a union except artificial contrived incentives such as the trade barriers and equalization payments (bribes). Again, I see no evidence to the contrary that it is simply an attempt of a continent with an inferiority complex to try and gain power by forcing an unnatural union. Europeans are obviously obsessed with the concept of a single world power since the breakup of the Soviet Union, which they are desperately trying to counter.