It argues that those who focus on the failures of European integration, the mixed record in the achievement of common European policies, and disagreements among European leaders, are missing the bigger picture: that a combination of history and the rise of the European Union have helped encourage Europeans to develop common positions on a wide range of issues.
This argument emphasizes that while there may be challenges and disagreements within European integration, the history of Europe and the formation of the EU have fostered common ground among Europeans on various matters.