wiring a home in Italy

[clivebullock]

I have purchased a house in Italy which needs totally re-wiring.
In italy they do not have seperate wiring systems for plugs and lighting systems and it is standard practice to run a single cable from the consumer unit into junction boxes in every room and from each junction box they run cables for both plugs and lights.Personally I think this is dangerous and it does not reflect my knowledge of the uk (I presume therefore European standards) at all.I have questioned the local (fully certified) electrician whom seems to have no concept of what I am saying and almost walked out on me asking "Do I want my house wired to Italian standards or not"

It would seem that the italian standards do not comply with European standards at all and in my humble opinion would seem to be both archaic and potentially dangerous.

Does anyone have any experience in this - can I ignore the Italian standards in preference for what i presume to be more modern European
standards adopting therefore a ring main with a seperate lighting system?