There's little doubt that Europe sorely needs a dose of strength and unity right now.

The Islamic State (IS) has spread from its bases in Syria and Iraq along the southern shores of the Mediterranean, slaughtering Christians on a Libyan beach and issuing bloodcurdling threats to export devastation to southern Europe.

To the east, Russian leader Vladimir Putin is pushing ahead with the dismemberment of Ukraine despite the ceasefire cobbled together by France and Germany. 

Yet, beset by internal problems, Europe is struggling to muster a coherent response.

After IS threatened to conquer Rome last week on a beach barely 500 miles from Sicily, Defense Minister Roberta Pinotti suggested Italy could lead an international coalition against the "imminent" threat of militants across the sea.

Italy soon backtracked. "It's not the time for a military intervention," said Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. Instead, he said Rome would deploy "wisdom, prudence and a sense of situation" to tackle the threat in Libya.