“My mother is from Lombardy in the north, my father is from Calabria in the south, and I live in Rome, so I’m pretty much representative of Italy. I feel Roman, Italian and European, all at the same time.  I think most Italians are committed to the idea of Europe – especially as we receive a lot of money from the EU for development. But we have this little problem called the mafia. It’s no good Brussels giving us money but then not checking up on how we spend it – sometimes it just disappears into the wallets of criminal organisations.  I know the British think Brussels has too much power, but I’d like to see more checks and supervision by the EU, not less. The mafia is not just an Italian issue, it’s a European problem, because they launder their money through businesses in countries like Switzerland and in tax-free havens.  I lived in London for three years, from 2002 to 2005, and I realised the British don’t like the idea of Europe. I don’t know whether it’s because of national pride or for more practical reasons, but I think it’s a big mistake. You’re a strong country, you should have big power in Europe, why don’t you use it?  One problem for Italy is that the people we send to Brussels as MEPs are not very competent. They are second rate – people who couldn’t make it in Italy and are being given another chance. That’s bad for Italy because we do not have very good representation at the EU and yet we are obliged to implement its rules.”
Caterina Marino, 32, works in a property rental office in Rome. She lived and   worked in London from 2002 to 2005