Italian Prime Minister warns UK will not get special treatment post Brexit

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has said it is “impossible” to give Britain more rights than any other non-EU member state once it leaves the European Union.

In an interview with the BBC, Renzi said: “The decision of the British people is a bad decision in my mind and I [am] sad for that but if we don’t accept the result of referendum the risk is give the message that the vote is not a good thing democracy is not an asset for this continent and this is impossible.”

He went on to criticise David Cameron for initiating the referendum to solve issues within the conservative party.

“David Cameron decided to use the referendum to solve some internal problems of the conservative party, this was the problem. We cannot use the foreign affairs to solve internal problems,” said Renzi.

The Italian prime minister has called his own referendum in Italy on whether to restructure the country’s parliamentary system.

“Renzi’s reform”, which is set to take place in December, may mean he too will have to resign due to the unpopularity of the move.

Renzi said he is willing to work with new Prime Minister Theresa May “to support this very difficult process”.

In a bilateral meeting with Renzi in Rome in July, May said the rights of Italians living in Britain would be guaranteed if British citizens enjoyed the same guarantees in Italy.

Renzi added that the debate about “flexibility” over EU rules on freedom of movement and access to the single market can only begin once the UK has triggered article 50.

"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," said Renzi.