A student's perspective of Europe

As I write this, I'm in Italy, taking part in an Erasmus exchange between my University and the University of Bologna. During the semester I spend here I hope to experience as much of Europe as possible, from a student's perspective.

And I'm not the only one. There are dozens of students from all over Europe on the same exchange as I am. The thing that struck me the most is how similar people essentially are. Everyone my age talks about the same things, and in the same way, albeit with a different accent or language.

During one evening, I was hanging out with people from Poland, Germany, Italy, France and Spain. To think of the clashes between these countries just 65 years ago! Having just been to Auschwitz last week, I couldn't imagine how people could hate others so much, just because they were born under a different flag. We are essentially all people separated by political borders.

Europe as one

In Europe, the days of expansionism are long gone. So while today it seems that these borders are fixed, they also seem to be dissolving. This is especially true in light of the recent extension of the Schengen Agreement. While not presenting your passport at borders is a minor change, it has some serious implications.

While I do miss the Maltese Lira, the euro is a very comfortable currency. Plus having so many people perform sums in their heads might raise the nation's IQ. But all these tiny changes on a European scale point to one thing: A potential federal state. Also foreseeable is a European Constitution. A European army and a common foreign policy have also been discussed in Brussels. What would be left for the EU to become the equivalent of the US? Many have tried to unify Europe by the sword, including the Romans, Charlemagne, Napoleon and up to a point Hitler. I guess unification is finally coming true with the use of diplomacy rather than force.

What's in a name?

We have the logo on our passports and our number plates. How long will it be before we are legally more European than Maltese? But the real question is, do we even want it? This debate hasn't started in Malta I feel.

What are the advantages of a European Federal State? Do we really want to be seen as one country by foreigners? Emilia-Romagna, the Italian region I'm in, has the Piadina as a regional food. But Pizza and Pasta are considered to be the national dishes.

There is a big difference between the little words "National" and "Regional". What if Maltese no longer remains a national language, but a regional one, like Catalan? Would we still be as proud of pastizzi and bigilla? When any one visits Bordeaux, does he say "I have visited Bordeaux in France", or "I have visited Bordeaux in Aquitaine"? The regions are quickly forgotten.

I have acquired a sense of European identity. I can relate to many people I meet here. But as European as I feel, I know that I am first and foremost Maltese; and I do not want to lose that. I do not wish Malta to become a "small rock south of mainland Europe." Almost every city I have been to within the last few months had at least one McDonald's and a "United Colours of Benetton". We are becoming a "global village". But what's the fun in having no other villages to visit?

Christopher Mintoff is a member of InSite, the student media organisation. www.insite.org.mt