Commentary A house divided against itself, in the words of Abraham Lincoln, cannot stand. Let’s apply Lincoln’s warning to the European Union. Its member states are very much divided. If the EU is a family, then it’s a highly dysfunctional one. Because of this dysfunctionality, numerous problems exist. Perhaps the biggest problem of all involves the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and its growing influence over EU member states. Brussels, not surprisingly, appears to be no match for Beijing. What is the purpose of the EU? I ask this question in all seriousness. According to its official website, the goals of the EU include the promotion of peace, protecting the values and the well-being of its citizens, as well as the protection of “freedom, security and justice without internal borders.” Laudable goals, no doubt. However, over the years, the EU has proven itself to be highly ineffective. According to a recent report published by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the EU’s shortcomings, …