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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Brexit: Italian PM Matteo Renzi warns UK over EU rights | Brexit: Italian PM Matteo Renzi warns UK over EU rights |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| It will be "impossible" for Brexit talks to result in a deal that gives Britons more rights than others outside the EU, Italy's PM has told the BBC. | It will be "impossible" for Brexit talks to result in a deal that gives Britons more rights than others outside the EU, Italy's PM has told the BBC. |
| Matteo Renzi warned that leaving the EU would be a "very difficult process" - but the problems could be solved only after the UK began the exit procedure. | Matteo Renzi warned that leaving the EU would be a "very difficult process" - but the problems could be solved only after the UK began the exit procedure. |
| He said the Brexit vote had been "a bad decision" but had to be respected. | He said the Brexit vote had been "a bad decision" but had to be respected. |
| Mr Renzi said he was ready to work with UK PM Theresa May to build the "best alliance" between the UK and the EU. | Mr Renzi said he was ready to work with UK PM Theresa May to build the "best alliance" between the UK and the EU. |
| Mr Renzi said he had been shocked and saddened by the EU referendum result, but repeated Mrs May's vow that "Brexit is Brexit", saying democracy had to be respected. | Mr Renzi said he had been shocked and saddened by the EU referendum result, but repeated Mrs May's vow that "Brexit is Brexit", saying democracy had to be respected. |
| Asked about whether there could be "flexibility" over EU rules on freedom of movement and access to the single-market, he said "I think this is a very interesting debate, because this debate will be a debate about the concept of rules in the EU." | Asked about whether there could be "flexibility" over EU rules on freedom of movement and access to the single-market, he said "I think this is a very interesting debate, because this debate will be a debate about the concept of rules in the EU." |
| But he said that debate could only begin once the UK had triggered article 50 - the official procedure for it to start leaving the EU - and he warned: "It will be impossible to give to British people more rights than other people outside the EU." | But he said that debate could only begin once the UK had triggered article 50 - the official procedure for it to start leaving the EU - and he warned: "It will be impossible to give to British people more rights than other people outside the EU." |
| 'Best alliance' | 'Best alliance' |
| "The people of the UK decided the way for the future," Mr Renzi said. "Now the situation is that we can - and we have to - build the best alliance between the UK and the EU for the future because we will be the best friends for the next years. | "The people of the UK decided the way for the future," Mr Renzi said. "Now the situation is that we can - and we have to - build the best alliance between the UK and the EU for the future because we will be the best friends for the next years. |
| "And at the same time I think this decision could push European leaders to invest in a new way for Europe." | "And at the same time I think this decision could push European leaders to invest in a new way for Europe." |
| Mr Renzi said Brexit discussions would be handled by the European Commission - not individual leaders or countries. | Mr Renzi said Brexit discussions would be handled by the European Commission - not individual leaders or countries. |
| However, he added that he was ready to work with Mrs May "to support this very difficult process". | However, he added that he was ready to work with Mrs May "to support this very difficult process". |
| He said questions over the UK's departure from the EU need to be solved "as soon as possible". | He said questions over the UK's departure from the EU need to be solved "as soon as possible". |
| Mr Renzi also blamed Brexit on David Cameron, saying the former UK PM had tried to solve internal problems within the Conservatives by calling the EU referendum. | |
| The Italian prime minister, who has called his own referendum in Italy on whether to restructure the country's parliamentary system, said: "The problem was one problem. | The Italian prime minister, who has called his own referendum in Italy on whether to restructure the country's parliamentary system, said: "The problem was one problem. |
| "When David Cameron decided to use a referendum to solve some internal problems of the Conservative Party, this was the problem. We cannot use foreign affairs to solve internal problems." | "When David Cameron decided to use a referendum to solve some internal problems of the Conservative Party, this was the problem. We cannot use foreign affairs to solve internal problems." |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| By Katya Adler, BBC Europe editor | By Katya Adler, BBC Europe editor |
| Matteo Renzi was in a hurry. | Matteo Renzi was in a hurry. |
| He's always in a hurry. One of his nicknames is "frenzied Renzi" and this is a particularly busy week for him. | He's always in a hurry. One of his nicknames is "frenzied Renzi" and this is a particularly busy week for him. |
| Here in Rome, Italian TV blasting out from bars and cafes features back-to-back rowdy studio debates about "Renzi's Referendum". | Here in Rome, Italian TV blasting out from bars and cafes features back-to-back rowdy studio debates about "Renzi's Referendum". |
| It's now set for 4 December - all part of the Italian Prime Minister's reformist drive to streamline and, he says, stabilise Italy's economic and political landscape. | It's now set for 4 December - all part of the Italian Prime Minister's reformist drive to streamline and, he says, stabilise Italy's economic and political landscape. |
| Still, despite the hectic schedule, he managed to sit and engage with me in a debate, not just about his own political fortunes but about Brexit and the chance he believes it offers to reboot the troubled European Union. | Still, despite the hectic schedule, he managed to sit and engage with me in a debate, not just about his own political fortunes but about Brexit and the chance he believes it offers to reboot the troubled European Union. |
| Italy's constitutional conundrum | Italy's constitutional conundrum |
| Mr Renzi's comments come as Mrs May has been urged to stamp out disagreement between the government ministers she has appointed to deal with Britain's exit from the EU. | Mr Renzi's comments come as Mrs May has been urged to stamp out disagreement between the government ministers she has appointed to deal with Britain's exit from the EU. |
| Mrs May's has put David Davis, Brexit Secretary, Liam Fox, International Trade Secretary, and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, in charge of the process. | Mrs May's has put David Davis, Brexit Secretary, Liam Fox, International Trade Secretary, and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, in charge of the process. |
| However, the Institute for Government said her decision risks creating fragmentation and incoherence about who does what. | However, the Institute for Government said her decision risks creating fragmentation and incoherence about who does what. |
| The think tank - which has very close links to Whitehall - said the lack of clarity had already caused distractions which had wasted valuable time. | The think tank - which has very close links to Whitehall - said the lack of clarity had already caused distractions which had wasted valuable time. |
| It called for another 500 officials to be hired to deal with Brexit - at a cost of £65m. | It called for another 500 officials to be hired to deal with Brexit - at a cost of £65m. |
| Meanwhile, the head of the business group representing German industry - the BDI - has called on the British government to pursue a "hard Brexit". | Meanwhile, the head of the business group representing German industry - the BDI - has called on the British government to pursue a "hard Brexit". |
| Markus Kerber told the BBC the UK opting to leave the EU and the single market entirely was the only realistic option. | Markus Kerber told the BBC the UK opting to leave the EU and the single market entirely was the only realistic option. |