Does European Union really bond its members together?
The European Union is not meant to be a supper state. It is a unique organization formed by free countries which are united and decided to work together at some level of cooperation and integration. Since its origins, EU has gained strong power as a "block".
Additionally, EU brings value to the national level. The countries realized that national dimension is not enough to address several issues such as climate change, energy security, and peace in a global environment.
The most important factor is that the EU recognizes the value and respect the diversity of its members. The sense of respect and cultural differences creates a peaceful atmosphere among citizens. In addition, the EU already recognized the power is has when working as a block.