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BREXIT

British PM to make Brexit speech in Florence in charm offensive to Italy

British Prime Minister Theresa May will travel to Italy next week to make a major speech on Brexit, Downing Street said on Wednesday September 13th.

British PM to make Brexit speech in Florence in charm offensive to Italy
British Prime Minister Theresa May. Photo: Tolga Akmen/AFP.

“On Friday, September 22nd, the prime minister will give a speech in Florence to update on Brexit negotiations so far,” her spokesman said. “She will underline the government's wish for a deep and special partnership with the European Union once the UK leaves the EU.”

Asked about the choice of venue, he said: “The prime minister wanted to give a speech on the UK's future relationship with Europe in its historical heart.

“The UK has had deep cultural and economic ties spanning centuries with Florence, a city known for its historical trading power.

“As the UK leaves the EU, we will retain those close ties. As the prime minister has said many times, we are leaving the EU not Europe.”

May gave formal notification to Brussels of Britain's intention to leave the 28-nation bloc in March, starting the two-year countdown to Brexit.

But negotiations with the EU are proceeding slowly, as both sides grapple over the extent of Britain's financial obligations, the rights of European citizens and the issue of the Irish border.

The British government announced Tuesday that the fourth round of talks, which were due to start next week, had been postponed until September 25.

The decision was taken by “both sides” to allow more time for consultation, with the aim of giving negotiations “the flexibility to make progress”, a spokesman said.

European Parliament Brexit chief Guy Verhofstadt said last week that the talks could be delayed because of an “important intervention” from May.

Her spokesman said: “The prime minister has said that she would provide updates on how the negotiations were going and be engaged in an ongoing conversation with Europe, and that's what she's doing.”

READ MORE: Italian foreign minister meets David Davis to discuss individuals' rights post-Brexit 

HEALTH

Brits living in Italy under post-Brexit rules won’t pay healthcare fee

British nationals who moved to Italy before January 1st 2021 are exempt from paying Italian healthcare fees, according to an update on the UK government website for British nationals overseas.

Brits living in Italy under post-Brexit rules won't pay healthcare fee

Italian authorities have clarified that British residents covered by the post-Brexit withdrawal agreement (WA) should not be subject to fees for using the Italian national health service (servizio sanitario nazionale, or SSN), according to the update published on the British government’s Living in Italy website on Friday afternoon.

“The Italian government has recently decided that British nationals who entered and have been living in Italy prior to January 1st 2021 and are beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement can register for free with the Italian national health system and are therefore not required to make voluntary contributions,” it read.

READ ALSO: Trouble proving residency rights leaves Brits in Italy paying €2k health charge

The unexpected announcement came as a relief to many of The Local’s British readers, who have been battling local authorities’ varying interpretations of the rules for those who are covered by the WA.

However there were no further details available immediately about how the rules would work or how this would be communicated to local healthcare offices around Italy.

The British government’s update stated: “We continue to engage to fully understand guidelines and requirements,” and added that any updates would be published on the website.

Clarissa Killwick, citizens’ rights campaigner with Beyond Brexit, told The Local the update on Friday had come as “a big surprise”.

“Obviously very good news, but we need to wait and see the detail as to how this is going to work.”

READ ALSO: Why Brits in Italy say they’ve been ‘hung out to dry’ over €2K healthcare fee

“There has been a very positive reaction from our members,” she said. “I can feel a great weight lifting from those who have gone through a lot of anxiety since the new minimum of €2,000 for SSN voluntary contributions was first mooted last October.”

Italy’s government confirmed the new minimum €2,000 charge applies from the start of 2024, though there has been a persistent lack of clarity over exactly who it applies to.

In the absence of clear national guidelines, local health authorities have reportedly applied differing interpretations of the rules for WA beneficiaries, with several British nationals reporting being wrongly charged the fee in January.

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