Economic integration in the European Union1 has, arguably, been one of the most significant developments in the global economy in the last half-century. How could countries that just a few decades earlier were at war and culturally disjointed now aim at closer economic and political integration, and appear en route to forming one virtual “country” under a proposed European Constitution? The formation of the European Union, the adoption of the single currency, and many other erstwhile targets that were deemed “too difficult”, but which are now realities, have proved many skeptics wrong. Other regions in the world, to a greater or lesser degree, appear to be in quest of a similar goal – the integration of their regional economies. What lessons could they learn from the European Union experience? Specifically, as closer cooperation appears a clarion call at the level of Asian politicians, can East Asia learn some lessons from the European Union?