Europe as a concept

Random thought as I was listening to the lyrics for a pioneer handcart song. The verse goes "Ye Saints who dwell on Europe's shore, prepare yourselves for many more, to leave behind your native land for sure God's judgments are at hand." And a question came to mind: could anyone think of Europe as a unit, perhaps even approaching a nation state as the European Union is doing, without the melting pot (or salad bowl - pick your favorite metaphor) of the United States, where the people of differing native lands (yet more similar to each other than to say eastern Asia or Africa) forged a nation state?