Despite their greatest efforts, the generation of leaders who led the way for the European integration process was apparently incapable of creating a persuasive success-story that could stand the test of time. The new generations of leaders do not seem to share a European memory, which might be the missing secret ingredient for a long-lasting community. The U.S. experience suggests that it may not be enough to write a constitution or sign a set of treaties; perhaps what is really needed is to have something to remember.