Actually, you're right. I do look at England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales as...well, I guess, Britain, and don't make the connection of them to "the continent," that is, Europe.
I've been called on this 1/2 dozen times so far.
Yeah, I bet you have.
For some reason some people across the ocean are beginning to think they are part of "Europe" just because they have been barraged by propaganda. "Let us all bow down to Brussels, let us all bow down to the superior and gracious French." The Germans have sure gone for this stuff.
Makes you wonder if that old crypto-racist insult is true - "The Germans are either at your throat or at your feet." Bet your bottom dollar that the French big shots think that the Germans are beneath contempt.