British ambassador sees win-win Brexit

(ANSA) - Rome, December 6 - British Ambassador to Italy Jill Morris told an ANSA Forum on Tuesday that she was hopeful Brexit negotiations can lead to a win-win outcome for all involved.
    She also expressed optimism that relations with Rome will continue to flourish after the Italian people voted to reject the government's Constitutional reform on Sunday, prompting Matteo Renzi to announce he would resign as premier. "Now our job is to finish the path to a Brexit that protects our interests, but not only those of the UK," Morris, who became Britain's first woman ambassador in Rome earlier this year, explained in fluent Italian.
    "At the end of the negotiations there must be a win-win situation. "The EU must be stronger and Britain must be stronger in its new relationship with Europe.
    "Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has stressed that it's not in our interests to have a weak Europe.
    "On the contrary, we want a strong EU and good relations with the individual member States".
    She acknowledged that Britain's decision to leave the EU had had an "emotional impact" on "friends and partners overseas", many of whom had been hoping for a different outcome.
    Morris said negotiations should not be based on a model derived from any of the other countries, such as Norway, that are strongly linked to the European Union while not being members.
    "The important thing is to find a British model," she said.
    "During our period as a member of the EU, we've had a specific relationship, special to Britain.
    "So its so logical to have a relationship that is specific after we leave too, a British model that works well for us and our partners. "Britain will play an important role in security and foreign policy for example".
    Morris said the British government was aware that uncertainty over the Brexit process could be damaging for the UK and Europe.
    She said this is the reason Prime Minister Theresa May is determined to meet the deadline she has set of triggering Article 50 by the end of March, even if the government loses a legal challenge and is forced to consult parliament before doing so.
    The ambassador told the forum that London wants to guarantee the right of EU citizens currently living in Britain, including some 600,000 Italians, to stay.
    But she said this depended on EU member States making the same pledge for British nationals living in their countries.
    "The one condition is reciprocity. If British citizens' rights are respected, we see no problem," the ambassador said.
    "Our prime minister has said it would be best to address this issue at the start of the (Brexit) negotiations.
    "It would be best to resolve this at the start so citizens don't have to worry". Morris said the No victory in Sunday's Constitutional reform referendum "was a democratic choice of the Italian people". "Italy is and remains an important partner for us, both on a bilateral level and in the EU," she said.
    "Relations between Britain and Italy are already very strong and will be deepened in future.
    "Britain will continue to collaborate with any Italian government to address common challenges and work on the many interests we share".