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For Italians, Complex Ties to the E.U. For Italians, Complex Ties to the E.U.
(4 months later)
BOLOGNA, Italy — Even here in one of the most European of cities, reputed home to the world’s oldest university, the appeal of Europe — both as an idea and as an institution — has lost its glow. BOLOGNA, Italy — Even here in one of the most European of cities, reputed home to the world’s oldest university, the appeal of Europe — both as an idea and as an institution — has lost its glow.
A few weeks before voters in 28 countries elect a new European Parliament, expectations here are low, and not just for the turnout, which is predicted to fall well below the 2009 levels of 43 percent across Europe and 65 percent in Italy.A few weeks before voters in 28 countries elect a new European Parliament, expectations here are low, and not just for the turnout, which is predicted to fall well below the 2009 levels of 43 percent across Europe and 65 percent in Italy.
If the European Union itself were a candidate in these elections, which run from May 22 to 25, it would have a hard time winning — even in Italy, once a fervently pro-union country. Fifty-three percent of those surveyed do not feel like European Union citizens, according to a Eurobarometer poll published last February.If the European Union itself were a candidate in these elections, which run from May 22 to 25, it would have a hard time winning — even in Italy, once a fervently pro-union country. Fifty-three percent of those surveyed do not feel like European Union citizens, according to a Eurobarometer poll published last February.
“There is a feeling that Europe has become more demanding, that they keep telling us we’re not good enough,” said Gianfranco Pasquino, a professor at the Bologna Center of Johns Hopkins University and co-editor of the forthcoming edition of the Oxford Handbook of the European Union. “Italians resent this.”“There is a feeling that Europe has become more demanding, that they keep telling us we’re not good enough,” said Gianfranco Pasquino, a professor at the Bologna Center of Johns Hopkins University and co-editor of the forthcoming edition of the Oxford Handbook of the European Union. “Italians resent this.”
But the disaffection with Europe and its sprawling bureaucracy here is ambiguous, compared with that of some of Italy’s neighbors. People talk about being disappointed; homemakers complain that the adoption of the euro led to higher prices; students question the efficiency of new banking rules; workers challenge austerity measures imposed by the European Union. According to recent polls, 53 percent of Italians support the euro today — a far cry from the 73 percent level recorded in the mid-1990s.But the disaffection with Europe and its sprawling bureaucracy here is ambiguous, compared with that of some of Italy’s neighbors. People talk about being disappointed; homemakers complain that the adoption of the euro led to higher prices; students question the efficiency of new banking rules; workers challenge austerity measures imposed by the European Union. According to recent polls, 53 percent of Italians support the euro today — a far cry from the 73 percent level recorded in the mid-1990s.
But Italians still feel the pull of Europe, which many see as crucial to their national destiny. Mr. Pasquino likes to cite the case of a student who, when asked to identify himself, said he was “a European, born in Turin.”But Italians still feel the pull of Europe, which many see as crucial to their national destiny. Mr. Pasquino likes to cite the case of a student who, when asked to identify himself, said he was “a European, born in Turin.”
Marco Piana, 27, who works in the university’s admissions office, sees Europe as a work in progress. “It just needs time,” he said. “The next generation will see another Europe.”Marco Piana, 27, who works in the university’s admissions office, sees Europe as a work in progress. “It just needs time,” he said. “The next generation will see another Europe.”
There will be support for euroskeptics when Italy votes, but it won’t match the support for the National Front, France’s far-right party, or the United Kingdom Independence Party, which have taken anti-Europe rhetoric to new levels.There will be support for euroskeptics when Italy votes, but it won’t match the support for the National Front, France’s far-right party, or the United Kingdom Independence Party, which have taken anti-Europe rhetoric to new levels.
Most polls in Italy put the Five Star Movement, whose leader, Beppe Grillo, has campaigned for a referendum on leaving the euro, about eight percentage points behind the governing Democratic Party, which is pro-union.Most polls in Italy put the Five Star Movement, whose leader, Beppe Grillo, has campaigned for a referendum on leaving the euro, about eight percentage points behind the governing Democratic Party, which is pro-union.
Appeals to protect a beleaguered national identity — a theme that props up the National Front’s anti-Europe, anti-immigrant platform in France — have less resonance in Italy. “We are far less chauvinist than the French, and in that way, we feel more European,” Mr. Pasquino said. “The French like to think they are Europe.”Appeals to protect a beleaguered national identity — a theme that props up the National Front’s anti-Europe, anti-immigrant platform in France — have less resonance in Italy. “We are far less chauvinist than the French, and in that way, we feel more European,” Mr. Pasquino said. “The French like to think they are Europe.”
Italy is a younger country, with a complicated past, a poor administrative track record and a striking capacity for self-criticism. What people resent about the European Union is also what they appreciate about it, Mr. Pasquino said. “Without Europe, we would have sunk into the Mediterranean, and that would have been bad for Europe, too.”Italy is a younger country, with a complicated past, a poor administrative track record and a striking capacity for self-criticism. What people resent about the European Union is also what they appreciate about it, Mr. Pasquino said. “Without Europe, we would have sunk into the Mediterranean, and that would have been bad for Europe, too.”
Mr. Pasquino blames Italy’s politicians for the soured view of the European Union. Silvio Berlusconi, for instance, has repeatedly insulted Italy’s European partners, particularly Germany. “No prominent Italian politician in recent years — with the exception of President Giorgio Napolitano — has risked his political career on Europe,” Mr. Pasquino said.Mr. Pasquino blames Italy’s politicians for the soured view of the European Union. Silvio Berlusconi, for instance, has repeatedly insulted Italy’s European partners, particularly Germany. “No prominent Italian politician in recent years — with the exception of President Giorgio Napolitano — has risked his political career on Europe,” Mr. Pasquino said.
So Italians, famously individualistic, have been left to patch together their attitudes toward the European Union. In Bologna, students of all nationalities have nothing but praise for the Erasmus program, which gives European students the opportunity to study in other member countries.So Italians, famously individualistic, have been left to patch together their attitudes toward the European Union. In Bologna, students of all nationalities have nothing but praise for the Erasmus program, which gives European students the opportunity to study in other member countries.
For these reasons and others, students here say they oppose any effort to abandon the European Union, or even its common currency. But that doesn’t stop them from being critical.For these reasons and others, students here say they oppose any effort to abandon the European Union, or even its common currency. But that doesn’t stop them from being critical.
“Everybody knows we can’t go back to the lira, but they also don’t trust the euro,” said Olga Cardini, a law student. “This is one of the things we need to fix.”“Everybody knows we can’t go back to the lira, but they also don’t trust the euro,” said Olga Cardini, a law student. “This is one of the things we need to fix.”