I think McGrath is right, it is a mindset. If you ask any (most?)Scots 'what is the largest city in the south' the answer will probably be London. If you ask an Englishman 'what is the largest city in the north' the answer will probably Newcastle or Manchester. It is very common now that regions of England are meant when we hear or read 'the north east, the north, the northwest etc.,. BBC from the north is from northern England. What chance of being European when thinking in British geographical terms is impossible?