Italian citizens will be protected in no-deal Brexit: PM

Rome   :  The Italian government will aim to safeguard Italian citizens and businesses in the "undesirable" event of the UK's scheduled withdrawal from the European Union on March 29 without a deal, Premier Giuseppe Conte said on Tuesday.

"Given the current uncertainty around Brexit, the Italian government will keep working to ensure the protection of citizens' rights and those of our businesses, as well as financial stability in the undesirable event of Great Britain's exit from the EU without an accord," Conte told lawmakers.

Conte was briefing the Italian parliament on the summit of European leaders on Thursday, at which Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May will ask for a delay to smooth its exit from the bloc after parliament Speaker John Bercow ruled she must substantially change her twice-defeated divorce deal to put it to a third vote.

"It is to be hoped that decisions taken this week in London guarantee the UK's orderly departure from the EU so that a future relationship properly reflects the deep and special ties that have been built on over four decades of joint participation in Europe's integration process," Conte said.