I've only made 2 merges in the entire server of Athens (en25). The elite alliance there, ATTT, would likely be much less succesful if it were not for the NAP they have with the 2nd biggest alliance in the game.
Anyways, there are not any elite alliances on this server. Only mega alliances, which have good players, but recruit a good deal more (Lacking Diplomacy comes to mind).