It isn't a race. EU can't do everything and so it is best to see what several others are doing and take that as a sign to do something different. If only one party (or only your enemies) then yes you should, but it seems there are plenty of players and the EU is smart to sit it out.
The space race ended 50 years ago, all that is left is those who didn't win to finally cross the finish line. Dropping out is your best bet. The only reward was bragging rights, so you need to find something else to brag about. If indeed you need to brag, there is nothing wrong with modesty. Even if you do need to brag, it isn't clear what you can work on today that will get bragging rights - you might finish at the same time as something else and that something else gets the rights.
