Legislative and sociological differences between three European Countries:

Italy, England and Sweden.

During the Freeway conference, that  took place in our school (Itcg Mosè Bianchi) and  in which the Italian, English and Swedish  students took part, we have considered  different aspects of the European Union and how this union may influence positively  our lives. 

We  talked about the differences that appears more evident to our eyes of  “teenagers”: 

• The  difference of age limitations to buy some products like alcohol and tobacco:

About this point, the English guys  told us that they thought to find a lot of alcoholic people, knowing

 that, here, the alcohol can be bougth without any limitation.We have explained them that the Italians,

 knowing that they can drink what they want on the other hand they don’t exceed their physiological

 limits.  

• The big use, in Italy, of moped by teenagers:

          The Swedish students has declared that they have been really surprised seeing boys so “old” driving

          mopets; they said that if you drive that in Sweden you surely are considered crazy.  

·        The Euro:

Both England and Sweden have opted  not to join in the UEM from it’s beginning.

Sweden should leave the decision to a referendum.

England, instead, should wait some years.  

• The weather:

          In Sweden, in the period of the conference there was about one  meter of snow  around, in England

          it was quite cold (12/18°C); In Italy it was hot (23° C). 

·        The way of speaking:

The English students has taken to our attention (regarding the way we speech)

That, in their country, only the politicians use the mimic while they speak. Both English and Swedish had found our language very musical.

It was the first time that I have heard Swedish: it seems to me a Mix between French and Dutch: some times musical and soft, some times very hard. 

• The television:

          is the same everywhere (and even the programs are the same: “Who wants to be millionaire”,

          ”Big Brother”) even if in Sweden the foreign films are broadcast in the original language with subtitle in

          Swedish.    .

• The population in the city:

Swedish are just eight millions, and they have found Milan very crowded and busy.

The differences that we have found, as is clear, are irrelevant looking at a future of cooperation, even political, between our Countries.

I think that, if the European politicians, animated by the desire of peace, unity and brotherhood succeded in creating what, that was for a lot of economists an utopia (a unique currency between independent countries), it won’t be difficult for us, animated by the same noble ideals, strength political union and, so, let European Citizen say: ”I come from Europe: the first political union created with words instead of swords”.

Written by  Paolo Sala (free3@itcgbianchi.mi.it)