@GossiTheDog The US has far too much soft power and corporate investment in Europe, (and especially in UK most of all) for Europe to ever seriously consider standing on its own two feet, that is, even if pursuing a path of self determination would be the best strategy, EU leaders (like UK) simply cannot do it, mission impossible.
"Vassal State by Angus Hanton" explains the mind-blowing extent of how the US runs and essentially owns the UK. There's probably a similar book for Germany.