Amid ongoing uncertainty over Britain's withdrawal from the European Union, Italy has prepared for a 'No Deal' Brexit as well as for the orderly departure it would prefer, populist premier Giuseppe Conte said on Wednesday.
"The Brexit decree on citizens' rights, financial services and air travel has been converted into law," Conte told lawmakers ahead of a summit of European leaders on Thursday and Friday.
Last week, the government's Brexit taskforce had met at the prime minister's office in Rome, Conte said.
"We remain committed to an orderly Brexit," Conte underlined.
"But it is important that citizens and companies use the extra months by which Britain's withdrawal from the EU has been extended to prepare for any scenario - including No Deal," Conte said.
To prevent a precipitous Brexit on 12 April, Britain and the EU agreed in April to extend the original 29 March deadline to 31 October to allow time for MPs to approve a Brexit deal.