EU passed some legislation some time ago where "international" SMS should be capped at 0.11€, so maybe you should try to get a more recent contract or complain through your local consumer support org.
but if you send a message from your italian phone to a french friend in italy (which I think has a french SIM) that would be still international, wouldn't it?
My understanding of the SMS thing is "nation of receiving phone operator" not "nation where the receiver is".
