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.
The author suggests that focusing solely on the negative aspects of European integration overlooks the broader historical context and the role of the EU in shaping shared positions across a wide range of issues.