Why don't construction prices go down?

We in Germany first have to give up the idea that we as a small population of 85 million can change anything significantly all alone...

We couldn’t change anything about Corona, nor about the Ukraine war. The switch to electric has long been decided worldwide, the combustion engine does not belong to the future, no matter what BMW is now tinkering with hydrogen. And we alone will not change anything about climate change...

The only hope for Europe would be to come together, to form the United States of Europe. So more Europe instead of less. Not everyone has to join, Hungary and Poland will see for themselves what they can still achieve alone on the big world stage. But alone as a loose confederation of nations?

Against India and China with 1.5 billion people each? Against the USA with almost 400 million?

No chance.

We in Germany first have to let go of the idea that we as a small population of 85 million can significantly change anything all alone and isolated...

Do we have to? Isn’t it enough to pursue smart economic and foreign trade policies or interest policies on the world stage?

We couldn’t change anything about Corona, nor about the Ukraine war. The switch to electric has long been decided worldwide, the combustion engine has no future regardless of what BMW is now tinkering with hydrogen. And we alone can’t change anything about climate change either...

You can take a position on the Ukraine war and behave accordingly. I really don’t see what the "United Nations of Europe" would do differently here. Especially since finding a common position would be even harder than in Germany (see Israel).

The USA and China are actually running pretty parallel in combustion and electric. I do understand BMW; they have very good combustion engines and want to somehow continue to use that knowledge. Also, all German manufacturers have the problem that they are extremely dependent on China technically for battery production.

The only hope for Europe would be to unite into the United States of Europe. So more Europe rather than less. Not everyone has to join; Hungary and Poland will see what they can still achieve alone on the big world stage. But alone as a loose federation of nations?

The question is who outside Germany even wants that. France would certainly be interested in communalizing state debts but not much more. The same applies to Italy. Spain would probably be more willing for such far-reaching integration.
In theory, I agree with you that a United Europe would be more powerful than Germany alone. But once you include reality, I no longer see it that way.
It will probably play out similar to the euro. The euro doesn’t have more influence/power than the Deutsche Mark had before. I don’t even want to talk about purchasing power for citizens, although for me that is borderline at 36 years old.

We especially need to say goodbye to the idea in Germany that as a small population of 85 million we can significantly change anything on our own...

Who invented the heat pump? Well, at least an Austrian is German-speaking.
Who invented both the gasoline and diesel engines? By the way, this question also applies to the electric motor on a larger scale.
Who invented mp3?
Who invented the printing press?
Who invented the light bulb? No, Edison came 25 years later...
Who invented the telephone? No, it was not Bell.
And finally, two very important things: who invented our current beer and also aspirin for the next morning?

Just a few examples of how even individual people from the small population of 85 million can massively change the world.

I would like to add to your list: Who invented the coffee filter bags? Who invented the bra? Who invented the tea bag? And for the banker --> Who invented the file clip?

Exactly! The Germans (or rather the Saxons, but fortunately they belong to Germany)

I am not quite sure, but beer was invented in the area of present-day Iraq.

That may be so. However, I am referring to THE beer with the Purity Law of 1516 "We want also particularly, that henceforth everywhere in our cities, markets and in the countryside, no beer of any other ingredients than barley, hops and water shall be made or used." And cheers to that!

Right! The Germans (or rather the Saxons, but fortunately they belong to Germany)

Nope.
A German or rather an individual or a small group around him. I myself as a German did not invent this and I do not dare to do such things, therefore I do not brag about it, but I am happy that someone did it and I may use it; that is enough.
The often-read insinuation, "we" Germans, "Bavarians" or "Saxons" or whoever, always has something presumptuous for me; I at least do not want to adorn myself with someone else’s glitter, unless I foolishly want to distinguish myself from someone.
Last read: "Sachsenkaffee".....fine print....harvested in Colombia.
Smart people exist all over the world, even in Germany and also (but not more or less) in Saxony or Bavaria.