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Tommaso Rada

2014 - 2018

Italy; Romania; Bulgaria; Greece; Portugal; Spain; France

Since the creation of the European Union (EU) one of the goal has been the unification of the different countries belonging to the EU and the abolishment of the frontiers between these countries. In 1990, the Schengen Agreement finally eliminate the borders between European countries.

Recently separatist movements grow up all across Europe, the economical differences between the European countries increased, the foreign politics aren’t common for all the countries, in a period in witch Europe should consolidate his union new obstacles and challenges appear.

In the latest years the concept of a “two speed Europe” became a plan in which several countries belonging to the European Community believe. The “two speed Europe” plan is the idea that different parts of the European Union should integrate at different levels and pace depending on the political situation in each individual country, most of the countries progressing with a slower speed would be the south of Europe ones; if for some countries it would resolve the problems of Europe, for others it would complete the collapse of the Union.

The Europe without the south would be like a castaway that lost his memory. The ideas and the reasons why Europe get united are included in the remote and more recent past of the countries from the South of Europe even if The South of Europe countries remains ones of the most historical, political and economical controversy States of Europe.

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  • Bulgaria, Nikopol. A view of Turno Magurele industrial area. Turno Magurele industries caused a massive pollution of the area.

  • Romania, Giurgiu. A man working as security guard stand on a barrack in front of an abandoned factory that he watch.

  • Spain, Cardona. A view of a mountain of salt, a geological unique of the Pyrenees. In the area the salt mining has been the main activity for decades. The excessive extortion of salt caused the contamination of the aquifer ground.

  • Bulgaria, Petrich. Workers in a shoes factory. Several factories in Bulgaria are working for Italian clients because the cheap labour cost.

  • Spain, Ayamonte. Buildings on a beach of Ayamonte. Before the economical crisis Portugal and Spain strongly invest in civil construction, today several apartments built are empty while several buildings were left incomplete due to the lack of funding.

  • France, Pic du Midi. Tourists relax at the top of the Pic du Midi where is located the higher Astronomy Observatory of Europe. Spain, Candanchu. A view of a ski resort. According to the European Environment Agency, Europe’s mountain regions may suffer some of the most severe impacts of climate change. Increasing temperatures can change snow-cover patterns and lead to water shortages and other problems such as reduced ski tourism.

  • Romania, Orsova. A communist style monument with a wrote welcoming refugees.

  • Italy, Ponte San Ludovico. A local beach close to the border with france surveilled by camera to prevent migrant to cross the Italian/French border.

  • Portugal, Vilanova de Santo Antonio. The Guardian River trace the border between Spain and Portugal for around 110 km, along this distance there are only 2 bridges and 2 ferry services that make possible the border crossing.

  • Italy, Trieste. A view of Risiera di San Sabba, a concentration camp during the World War II.

  • Spain, Badajoz. A water park built with the shape of a middle age castle.

  • Spain, Candanchu. A view of a ski resort. According to the European Environment Agency, Europe’s mountain regions may suffer some of the most severe impacts of climate change. Increasing temperatures can change snow-cover patterns and lead to water shortages and other problems such as reduced ski tourism.

  • Greece, Serrai. Abandoned petrol station. The Greek Macedonia is one of the poorest region of the country.

  • Romania, Dabuleni. The Dabuleni desert is the only one in Europe; the desertification start because intensive agricultural exploitation.

  • Italy, Ventimiglia. A migrant look in the direction of the french coast from the Italian side of the border. France intensify the controls on the border with Italy suspending the Schengen Treaty.


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