In 1957, when EEC was being established, Karl W. Deutsch published a book on North Atlantic security communities. He argued there that international integration is neither natural nor automatic, nor irreversible. Particular responsibility for the success of integration lies with its core. The entities that constitute the core should look after the economic success of the community and a balance of transactions in favour of its weakest partners, among others. For years, the EU has remained in economic stagnation, and the common currency that was supposed to unify Europe became one of the dividing factors. The crisis of 2007–2011 revealed the structural problems of the euro area. We are witnessing the resurgence of protectionism employed by wealthy Member States against the economically weaker ones, which is all the more dangerous given that, due to Brexit, the country that used to be the most consistent guardian of the common market has been removed from the equation. The EU has found itself in a crisis. Germany – its unwitting hegemon – has everything that is needed to overcome it. And it is in its vital interest because the EU is a safe way for Germany to be in Europe. So far, Germany has not been paying much attention to Karl Deutch’s recommendation, which remains topical even today. But if it does not start doing so, it will destabilise European integration.