Mr Heath took us in and one of Mrs Thatcher's lasting memorials will be the single market, with all the changes in European law which that implied. Of course, we have made it harder for ourselves because we did not join up at the beginning. Attlee and Eden bear a heavy responsibility for having allowed Britain to miss out on the original Common Market. A Europe originally built for seven and not six would have been better today.Yet that does not mean we should avoid being tough about the radical changes that are needed now. Not being run by Europe implies that Britain does not intend to be rolled over by others.

We need to give notice that we shall be fighting for an open Europe and against protectionism; that we are not federalists but believe in subsidiarity and the nation state; that we will retain ultimate control of our taxation. These stipulations are made not because we are anti-European, but because we are Conservatives. We do not want a bloated European structure any more than we want a bloated British system. We believe in small government as a political principle, and it applies universally.The national equivalent of our European slogan is "Committed to Britain, but not to being bossed about by British Governments". It's the traditional Conservative slogan and I, as a believer in Britain's European destiny, will be voting for it.. THE FORTHCOMING European Parliament elections are supposed to be another symbol of how much we Europeans have in common.

But are we really drawing closer, and absorbing more of each other's national characteristics and practices in a gigantic European melting-pot? From the vantage point of someone who is Italian by birth and British by citizenship - a privilege for which I was charged 10 shillings (or 0.8 euros) in 1964, extraordinarily good value - the convergence would be welcome. The British maintain a condescending affection for Italians, expressed in jokes about Italian tanks in the Second World War with one forward gear and three reverse gears. I remember Lady Thatcher introducing me at Downing Street receptions by saying, "She is Italian, you know" - as if that were sufficient explanation for any aberrant behaviour. But there's quite a lot more to being Italian than hand-waving eccentricity. Italy has more or less caught up with Britain in per capita GNP. An Italian, Romano Prodi, is taking over as president of the European Commission while the British scramble for the Euro-job crumbs.

Another Italian, Sonia Gandhi, may soon be running the world's largest democracy.Above all, though, from the top to the heel of the boot, Italians have turned life into lifestyle - a perfect combination of work and play, man and woman, simplicity and refinement. This carefully paced dolce vita is the envy of every other nation. But they're in luck: the newest best- seller in Italy is entitled Italiani Si Diventa - you become Italian If this is so, then there's hope for the British. Instead of adopting the Italian-style proportional voting system, with its inevitable result - a weak coalition government - Britain can copy Italy in plenty of other areas.Take the family There are many jokes about Italian mammas. But the fact is that the family, the foundation stone of Italian society, protects its members.

Networking, for jobs and marriage prospects, is done through cousins, nephews and in-laws. People deal more cautiously with one another because they know that behind each individual stands a posse of relatives ready to avenge their honour. Families do not break up with the same ease as they do in Britain; not only is the divorce rate significantly lower in Italy, but grown children usually stay at home until they are married, and the elderly are not deported to old folks' homes but remain a key part of the family unit.Equally important is the emphasis placed on leisure. Unlike the British, who have the shortest holidays in the EU, Italians are fierce in their defence of free time. In August, the nation comes to a standstill as holiday- makers flock to the beaches or the mountains.Italians spend more money on holidays than anyone else.