Is talk of a balanced trade balance a myth?

I have often heard that countries should have a balanced trade balance. But isn't the whole of Europe based on the principle of constant trade surpluses? The Economist also states very clearly that Europe has a “surplus economy”. The only countries that do not always have trade surpluses, such as France, are struggling with economic problems. And even if you look outside Europe, all economies are highly developed countries that do not rely on their wealth as a resource