In conditions of democracy, collective representations of the degree of affinity among various peoples and countries play a more and more important role in the processes of political integration and decomposition, even in Europe. In this article, the structure of Europe as a whole, consisting of so-called regional ensembles, i.e. informal groups of geographically, cultural and historically related states is considered. It is determined that such structures appear to be rational in a high degree and even symmetrical, showing clear attributes. In addition, the question of a similar system in the post-Soviet space and the character of its interaction with Europe in the context of the next decades is discussed. Finally, an analysis which leads to the formulation of a rather optimistic conclusion about the likelihood of the formation of a "Greater Europe” is made. However, the most likely scenario is within the framework of an umbrella association consisting of two relatively independent components: the European Community and the post-Soviet bloc.