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The bright side of Brexit: the ‘good news’ for Brits in Italy

Britain has voted to leave the European Union, and many if not most British expats in Italy are deeply concerned. But there are a few silver linings...perhaps.

The bright side of Brexit: the 'good news' for Brits in Italy
Photo: Justin Tallis/AFP

Readers fed up with all the negativity have asked us to try and put some positive spin on the result of the Brexit referendum and the economic fall out, which began even before the results came in.

It has not been easy, but we've had a go at looking on the bright side of Brexit for Brits in Italy.

Cheaper visits back home

Photo: Tiziana Fabi/AFP

The value of the pound fell sharply to a 31-year low on news of the outcome of the vote, and although it gained some ground on Tuesday and Wednesday, it is still down more than 10 percent from levels held on June 23rd. On Thursday the pound was worth around €1.21. So while life in Italy for those Britons who rely on income from back home will be more expensive, it will certainly make trips home to see the family in the UK a little cheaper.

Christmas shopping at Harrods never looked so good.

We've been here before

Photo: Money Sharma

The fall in the pound is indeed worrying and Brits have told The Local they have already seen the value of their pensions cut, while those working and Italy but paid in sterling have seen their income hit, which will inevitably impact their purchase power.

But the one thing to remember is that we've been here before. Back in 2008 we almost lost parity between the euro and the pound, and the currency is always fluctuating.

Get rich selling your house

Photo: Money Sharma

Expats come, and expats go, so if you’re thinking of returning to Britain and have a property in Italy, then now might just be the time to put your home on the markets.

Thanks to the exchange rate you're going to be able to get more for your money back home. A drop in property prices is also predicted in the UK so you might get a bargain.

Nothing will happen for a while, if ever?

One thing that is certain is that nothing will happen for a while. And some, in fact many, are suggesting that it will become so complicated for the UK to leave the EU that it might never happen.

Italy may benefit from Brexit

Milan's Duomo – could the northern Italian city compete with Frankfurt, Dublin and Paris? Photo: Melanie Bowman

There has been talk of Italy being the next domino to fall, but Brexit could actually be beneficially.

For a start, it might just stymie the ‘brain drain’. We see this as a good thing, because if Italy retains its talent, surely that’s a good thing for employers desperately in need of skills? Earlier this year, we reported how thousands of tech and engineering jobs are vacant because employers can’t find people able to do them. Of course, this will require impetus from the Italian government to further invest making the country and attractive place for young talent to stay, or even return home to.

Paris, Frankfurt and Dublin are now jockeying to reap the benefits of Brexit as financial institution mull moving jobs to other European cities, so why can’t Milan, Italy’s biggest start-up hub, and Turin be up there too?

Europe might become stronger

Italian premier Matteo Renzi, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President François Hollande. Photo: John MacDougall/AFP

Of course, no one knows what will happen with the EU now that the UK has voted to leave. But its leaders, at least those from France, Germany and Italy, are promising “a new impulse” to the EU now that the “enfant terrible” has it made it clear it wants a divorce.

It may be that the British public's rejection of the EU may force Europe to carry out the many necessary reforms to prevent other countries from following suit. And without Britain blocking the path, it may actually be possible to bring Europe closer together politically, which is what many economists believe is necessary.

In short, Brexit could give the EU an almighty kick up the backside and force it to take steps to make its economy stronger and to make the voters feel less disconnected from the decision makers.

It's a great time to become Italian


Photo: Wikimedia Commons

It's often said that Italians are the best cooks, the best dressed, the best footballers, the best designers. The list is endless. The country is also full to the brim of history, culture and beauty. So for all those who’ve always dreamed of being Italian, and to openly boast how proud you are of the country, this might be your chance.

What better excuse could there be to apply for Italian citizenship – if you qualify that is, than the potential troubles ahead if the UK does actually leave the EU?

Read more: Seven burning questions for British expats about Brexit

Becoming Italian would be positive on a number of levels, not least in integrating with the locals, who always appreciate a foreigner who makes an effort.

Better relations with American expats

There's nothing like commiserating about the trials and tribulations of Italian bureaucracy to bring people together. If Brexit happens, Brits would probably have to face the prospect of all kinds of administrative headaches and red tape that Americans have already been dealing with forever, so they're sure to make some new friends who will certainly be empathetic about their plight, and will no doubt have some useful advice.

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ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP

Italy grants citizenship to more people than any other EU country, study finds

Nearly 214,000 people became Italian citizens in 2022, making Italy the EU country with the single highest number of granted citizenship requests, a new study from research body ISMU found.

Italy grants citizenship to more people than any other EU country, study finds

Italy granted citizenship to some 213,716 people in 2022, according to a new study from Italian migration research body ISMU based on data from European statistics bureau Eurostat.

This made Italy the EU country with the highest number of granted citizenship requests, followed by Spain (with 181,581 new citizens), Germany (166,640) and France (114,483).

The number of Italian citizenship claims approved in 2022 was up by around 76 percent compared to 2021 (121,457).

Italy accounted for nearly a quarter (22 percent) of the total number of citizenship requests granted across the bloc: 989,940. 

Of those who acquired Italian citizenship in 2022, around 40 percent came from one of the following three countries: Albania (38,129 successful applications), Morocco (30,953) and Romania (16,302).

The top five was completed by Brazil (11,239) and India (8,509), with no English-speaking nation appearing in the top 20.

READ ALSO: Five surprising Italian citizenship rules you should know about

As for the age of those who gained Italian citizenship in 2022, 37 percent of new citizens were under the age of 20.

According to the study, Italy granted citizenship to a total of nearly 1.5 million people between 2013 and 2022, with 2022 being the year with the highest number of successful applications, followed by 2016 (201,591) and 2015 (178,035).

ISMU’s study provided no details as to which paths to acquire citizenship were the most popular ones in 2022. 

According to the latest data from Italian statistics office Istat, the most common ways to claim Italian citizenship are: ius sanguinis, which allows those who can prove descent from at least one Italian ancestor to claim Italian citizenship; birthplace (or ius soli), which entitles people born and raised in Italy by non-Italian parents to claim Italian citizenship at age 18; and parental transmission, which transfers citizenship to the children of adults who acquire citizenship provided they’re under 18 and living with them at the time.

READ ALSO: The three ways to apply for Italian citizenship

The birthplace or ius soli path has recently been at the centre of nationwide debate after Italian rapper Ghali shone light on the issues faced by second-generation immigrants at the Sanremo music festival.

Italy currently has one of the toughest citizenship regimes in Europe when it comes to children born in the country to foreign parents as they are unable to apply for an Italian passport until they are 18.

READ ALSO: Will my children get an Italian passport if born in Italy?

After turning 18, they have one year to submit their application for citizenship. If the window is missed, claiming citizenship becomes a complex bureaucratic process, which can take at least three years.

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