Even if I accept the thesis, the point is that we need competition. But the competition is on the global stage, there's really no point in competing between Europeans.

Now, Germany is about 80millions people I think, Italy and France are both around 60 millions, Britain 67 millions. USA are 327 millions, China and India are both 1.4 billions people. There's no way for even Germany to facetank a big power: no matter how much they are good at building cars, they are simply too few. All Europe, which roughly half a billion people, can stand a chance.