Urso meets British Minister Reynolds in London: «Great Britain is a strategic partner»

Great Britain's rapprochement with the European Union also passes through Italy. During the meeting today in London with the British Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Jonathan Reynolds, the Minister of Business and Made in Italy Adolfo Urso reassured his counterpart that the Italian Government strongly supports London's participation in Made in Europe.

«I told Reynolds that Italy considers Great Britain a great strategic partner that must be considered within the scope of Made in Europe, as long as there are conditions of reciprocity – Urso told the press at the Italian Embassy in London after the bilateral meeting -. Italy welcomes the inclusion of Great Britain in the policy to protect European companies from foreign competition."

London has expressed its fear of being the party harmed by the EU's "protectionist" industrial program and has said it is willing to make concessions, including on youth mobility, to become part of it. The issue will be discussed at the UK-EU summit in Brussels on 20 November.

However, an agreement in such a short time is unlikely, Urso warned today: «The main problem is not the attitude towards Great Britain but towards other actors. There are different opinions and different needs and we are trying to find a common position that can then be endorsed by the European institutions. However, the perimeter must be defined within the year."

Beyond the Made in Europe programme, the Italian Government welcomes the pro-EU turn initiated by the new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who declared that Brexit "has done more harm than good".