The government’s plan for the return of Italians from the UK

Thousands of Italians are stranded in the United Kingdom due to the emergency linked to the new variant of the Coronavirus. For them, we are moving towards a conditional return plan with special flights: only citizens who reside in Italy or those who are in critical and urgent conditions can return. The details are still being defined, but according to the first news leak from Palazzo Chigi, the measures to be respected for the return will be even more severe: two pads are required, one before departure and the other on arrival; and then in any case a mandatory 14-day quarantine once it landed in Italy. The decision was made during a meeting at Farnesina, after consultation with the ministries of health and transportation. The restrictions will not affect the merchandise.

Giorgia Meloni, leader of the Brothers of Italy, a few hours before the government announced the general lines of its plan, had attacked the institutional management of the matter on Facebook: “Between football lessons on state television and summits for After the reorganization , Chancellor Luigi di Maio finds time to also deal with Italians stranded in Great Britain after the closure of flights to Italy ordered by his government colleague Roberto Speranza. We know from the press that 40,000 of our compatriots are blocked. What is the Farnesina’s plan to ensure the safe return of the Italians? ‘

It is estimated that at least 15 thousand Italians blocked

In the last hours, in addition, hundreds of Italians who were stranded on the other side of the English Channel have contacted the consular authorities of the United Kingdom by phone or email. The stop to travel decided by the government is scheduled until January 6. Alitalia alone has canceled or postponed the reservations of more than a thousand passengers who were supposed to fly from December 20 to 31. By estimating the average number of passengers who departed from London or other British airports to Italy in the period considered, it can be calculated that the people blocked or forced to review their plans will eventually be at least 15 thousand.

The problem mainly affects Italians living in the United Kingdom who planned to spend a few days with their families between Christmas and New Year, as well as dozens of young people returning from periods of study in Great Britain or people who have concluded or suspended employment contracts , with the addition of a minority part of tourists. There is no shortage of those who report financial or accommodation difficulties, perhaps because they have interrupted or canceled a rental contract. It should also be remembered that trips to Italy from any foreign country during the Christmas period were already subject to strict regulations. In fact, they were only allowed after a negative swab performed in Britain before departure up to and including December 20; and with an obligation of preventive quarantine of 14 days even in the absence of symptoms from December 21 until Epiphany.

The recommendation of the EU Commission

Meanwhile, the European Commission has issued a recommendation asking member states not to stop the movement of people and goods with the UK. An act that has no binding effect, but which aims to put pressure on national governments to avoid, on the one hand, compromising the supply of goods destined for Great Britain, and on the other, to ensure that currently stranded European citizens can return to House. Brussels recommends ending the bans stating that, on the one hand, “non-essential travel” should be discouraged, but that, on the other, it is necessary to “facilitate travel by necessity” and avoid “destructive interruptions” in the supply chain. of goods. Without commitment, but a particularly significant invitation from the political point of view, which arrives while in Dover thousands of trucks are stopped at the shipment for Calais and the Eurotunnel is closed by decision of the French government.

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