Friends in a Cold Climate: Udine-1

Intrigued, Giuliano joined the Udinese youth association to accompany his friend to Schiedam for another exchange. Upon meeting his host, they quickly formed a comfortable rapport. However, there was some tension regarding the formal relations between the two groups, with leaders being criticized for their overly formal and serious attitude.

Despite this, there was a common sense of representing their town, Udine, and a desire to make a positive impression. Giuliano recounts his involvement with friends from the Federalist European Movement. Despite respecting and liking these individuals, Giuliano, who leaned towards left-wing ideologies, initially viewed the federalist movement as less progressive compared to the working class movement.

Their perception of Europe was primarily as a commercial and customs union rather than a united continent. They as young people where at the advantage of being already more similar to one and another. A part of their youth culture was already a common culture.

Giuliano reflects on a change in his perspective due to cultural changes of the 1960s, which influenced his generation's worldview. Initially critical of initiatives like town-twinning and the common market, he now sees their importance as precursors to later social movements and progress. He acknowledges that previous generations' efforts were reasonable and beneficial, even though they once viewed them as inadequate.

INTEGRATION OF WESTERN EUROPE AFTER THE SECOND WORLD WAR was driven by a broad movement aimed at peace, security and prosperity. Organized youth exchange between European cities formed an important part of that movement. This research focuses on young people who, from the 1960s onwards, participated in international exchanges organised by twinned towns, also called jumelage.

Friends in a Cold Climate asks about the interactions between young people while taking into account the organisational structures on a municipal level, The project investigates the role of the ideology of a united West-Europe, individual desires for travel and freedom, the upcoming discourse about the Second World War and the influence of the prevalent “counterculture” of that period, thus shedding a light on the formative years of European integration.

(2024-02-06)