Munich. Alfano-Barnier talks: supervising the protection of the acquired rights of european citizens residing in the UK

“Italy confirms its support to the leading role that the European Commission is playing within the Brexit negotiation process. The Commission has the competences and abilities necessary to protect EU institutional and financial interests as a whole.” The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Angelino Alfano, made this comment to confirm Italy’s support to the EU Commission’s Chief Negotiatior for Brexit, Michel Barnier, to whom he also confirmed that Italy is fully aligned with the principle agreed at the June European Council: “the access to the internal market must be based on the fulfillment of the four fundamental freedoms.”  At the same time, Alfano illustrated to Barnier Italy’s priorities in the Brexit negotiations. In particular, the Minister of Foreign Affairs underlined that “the UK should be prevented from engaging in a regulatory competition to undercut rates in the financial sector with a view to maintaining the appeal of the London market,” while “making sure that there are no setbacks in the acquired rights of European citizens residing in the UK.”Finally Alfano said Italy is available to host the EU agencies currently headquartered in the United Kingdom.