[jacobush]

I had this random thought, I wonder if it holds water:

The EU states are (fairly) confident in their status as independent countries, and thus dare subject themselves to and implement such things as SEPA.

While the U.S. is a single country, the states within are not independent countries and, very aware of that, try to defend their independence within the union at every turn.

[pjc50]

I'm not sure it's the independence being defended so much as local grift of one form or another.