However, this is nothing exceptional for European history. Europe has been divided into two since the Roman Empire was divided and this division line was strengthened when the Church was divided into two. In a way there has existed culturally two different Europe since 359 ad. Therefore it was historically incorrect to expect Europe to be united in the near future after the end of the Cold War. But it is a challenge for the European future to unite the whole Europe and this might be a precondition for Europe to maintain its role and wealth in the globalizing world.
European integration has to be understood also in the context of globalization.
Globalization is a challenge for Europe and the Union and it demands new strategies. One of the survival strategies in the globalizing world has been networking in the sense that regions try to integrate themselves into the global economy without the context of national economy. This has encouraged European regions to co-operate within the Union and also with the regions outside the Union. This regionalization decreases the role of national borders within the Union and it also strengthens the integration process. Europe is especially the place where regionalization has become an important phenomenon and there is therefore also a threat of fragmentation of Europe.