COMENIUS MEETINGITALY 2013

EUROPE OUR COUNTRY

Since the European Union has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize this year, I would like to take this as an opportunity to think about what being European actually means. When I am in Italy, I feel very European.

No wars in Europe. The longest period of peace forever. This is enough to consider the European Union a success.The Western Europe together with the Central and Eastern Europe have achieved what the North America has not been able to do with the Central and South America.

The European Union has allowed people who have made the war throughout the history to become allies, partners and friends;we should get up every morning and happily cry that our children do not have to die protecting some strange border.

We have the same passport in our pockets and we can even do without.

Erasmus exchange programme - born twenty years ago –has involved thousands of students.The best spent money in the European Union.

If you want to be a chemist, a waiter or a nurse in another European city, no one can stop you.

Since 1992 the European food products have been traceable (PGI: Protected Geographical Indication) and protected (PDO: Protected Designation of Origin). That is to say: we know what we eat.

If you break your arm in Manchester, Amsterdam or Rome, and go to hospital, you will not be sent away and someone will certainly look after you.

If we want to spend a weekend in Amsterdam, London or Paris we don’t need to change money or phone. We could change girlfriend, maybe, but that does not depend on

the European Council.

I'm an Italian citizen and I have lived here in Italy all my life... but I feel both Italian and European.Last summer I went to Egypt for the first time in my life. I was asked a few times 'where are you from?' I always answered: 'from Europe, from Italy'.

We feel at home even when we're not at home.

Hurrah for

Europe!