Is the shock of the US-Iran war helping Europe come together?

The shock of escalating tensions between the US and Iran is not uniting Europe as many hoped, but rather exposing deep fractures in its political and economic fabric. At the Delphi Economic Forum, host Bronwyn Maddox and Europe and Russia program director Grégoire Ruz argue that while the geopolitical chaos has forced a reevaluation of Europe’s strategic posture, real integration remains elusive. Despite moments of unity—like coordinated messaging at Davos and small defense deployments—Europe’s decision-making remains paralyzed by national pettiness, with countries like France and Hungary blocking progress on enlargement and defense cooperation. The dream of a 'Europe Puissance' is undermined by internal divisions, especially over Ukraine’s future membership and the feasibility of 'partial integration' models. Meanwhile, smaller nations like Greece and Poland, having recovered from financial crises, now offer pragmatic lessons in reform and resilience, but their voices are drowned out by larger powers. On energy, Europe’s dependence on Russian oil persists, with Hungary and Slovakia still reliant on the Druzhba pipeline despite political tensions, while Germany faces disruption due to shifting Russian logistics. The episode ends on a note of cautious realism: Europe is not coming together, but it may be learning to adapt—through crisis, not consensus.