Urso meets British Minister Reynolds in London: ‘Britain is a strategic partner’
The Italian Government welcomes the pro-EU shift initiated by the new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, who has stated that Brexit ‘has done more harm than good’
Britain’s rapprochement with the European Union also involves Italia. During today’s meeting in London with Jonathan Reynolds, the British Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, Adolfo Urso, the Minister for Enterprise and ‘Made in Italy’, reassured his counterpart that the Italian Government strongly supports London’s participation in ‘Made in Europe’.
“I told Reynolds that Italy regards the UK as a major strategic partner that must be included within the ‘Made in Europe’ framework, provided that there is reciprocity,” Urso told the press at the Italian Embassy in London following the bilateral meeting. “ “Italia welcomes the inclusion of the UK in the policy to protect European businesses from foreign competition.”
London has expressed concern that it may be the party to suffer as a result of the EU’s ‘protectionist’ industrial programme and has said it is prepared to make concessions – including on youth mobility – in order to join the programme. The issue will be discussed at the UK–EU summit to be held in Brussels on 20 November.
However, Urso warned today that an agreement within such a tight timeframe is unlikely: “The main problem is not the attitude towards the UK but towards other players. There are differing views and differing needs, and we are trying to find a common position that can then be endorsed by the European institutions. The scope must, in any case, be defined by the end of the year.”
The EU and the UK draw closer
Apart from the ‘Made in Europe’ programme, the Italian Government welcomes the pro-EU shift initiated by the new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, who has stated that Brexit ‘has done more harm than good’.
