European Gift Shop

European Union is the form the united continent is taking, with very many problems and provocations that lie ahead. The Union is a gathering of independent states who decided to merge into a fellowship of nations that would foster their economy, the development of inter-state relations or the development of their joint security. European Union is now composed of 27 states that speak almost as many languages and share many religious beliefs.

The Union is built upon a bureaucratic system that is trying to administer its affairs and integrate the partner states into one vision about the future. Within the borders of the Union which, by the Lisbon Treaty, actually becomes a super state, live around 450 million people.

Although almost all Europeans agree that the unification of the continent is a very bold and positive endeavor, there are many Euro-skeptics who believe that the central bureaucracy brackets democracy and imposes a non-transparent system.

Europe comprises very many cultures and languages and it is a huge task of the European Union to manage all these differences and bring them together into a polyphonic concert where each voice can be heard in consonance with the others.

A way, among many, to promote the new realities in Europe is the tourism and its correlative: the gift shop system. As we can probably figure it out, EU already has some symbols and values that are common to all European within the confines of the Union and begin to shape the image identity of a somewhat faceless political structure.

If you are looking for European gift shops you can find them both in Bruxelles or Strassbourg, where most of the institutions are, and in all the component countries.

Thus, for the price of $4.00 we can buy an oval sticker with the national flag of the component countries. You may also buy a cup with the flag of the European Union on it or with a 1 Euro coin on them

A beautiful gift anyone could buy is a landmark made of crystal representing a monumental architectonic building of the component countries. The Old Gift Shop, for instance, is a place where we can buy such souvenirs. If we are impressed with French culture and wish to remind us of the beautiful moments spent in that part of Europe, we may buy a Notre Dame de Paris landmark made of crystal. If we are interested in Dutch culture we may buy a windmill, the most representative landmark of the country.

Those who love Italy may enjoy Piazza San Marco of Venice reproduced also in 24K crystal. The Koln cathedral, Buckingham Palace, La Tour Eiffel, The Leaning Tour of Pisa or even the Spasky Tower in the Moscow’s Kremlin show us that Europe is a beautiful place to be, with a huge tourist potential.