Ahh, yes, functional airspace blocks (or FIR s as they could be known?)
Let's be honest, Europe is a con.
Can anyone actually see the French ceeding control of their airspace to Germany or even us (we did not fight two wars to give zees away now), the Italians letting the French have control, the Germans letting anyone else have control, or a myriad of other nationally orientated grudges being swept away in the interest of the greater european good??
"Alas monsieur, we would love to participate in zis european idyll of centrally controlled airspace, but alas in ze interests of national security we must, reluctantly, say non. And besides, we want to keep speaking French!"