Manchester Comites at the EU Citizens Gathering

A delegation from the Manchester Comites, led by President Cesare Ardito and consisting of Secretary-Councillor Silvia Massini and Councillor Silvana Poloni, took part today in the EU Citizens Gathering organised by the Delegation of the European Union to the United Kingdom at the University of Manchester.

The event—built around a rich series of themed panels and interactive workshops—provided a key forum for discussing the status of EU citizens’ rights in the post-Brexit era, relations with Brussels institutions, and prospects for transnational cooperation. The institutional presence was particularly high-profile: proceedings opened with remarks from several diplomats, including Italy’s Deputy Ambassador to the UK, Riccardo Smimmo, followed by greetings from Pedro Serrano, the EU Ambassador in London. The closing address was delivered by Katarina Barley, Vice-President of the European Parliament, who emphasized the importance of valuing migration’s contribution to both British and European society.

Also in attendance were the Italian Consul in Manchester, Gabriele Magagnin, and numerous representatives of the Italian community active in the European third-sector: Giulia Canu for the EU Citizens Campaigns Network of the3million, Hasnain Altaf of INCA UK, Claudia Dalpero of Europe Street News, and Elena Remigi of Comites London and the CGIE.

The gathering was joined as well by councillors from the Consejos de Residentes Españoles (CRE) and David Casajeros from the Consejo General de la Ciudadanía Española en el Exterior (CGCEE)—Spanish bodies very similar to the Italian Comites and CGIE. This meeting continued a fruitful exchange of best practices between the two Mediterranean communities, laying the groundwork for future collaboration on shared concerns such as safeguarding social rights, improving access to consular services, and undertaking joint cultural promotion.

“As every year, taking part in the EU Citizens Gathering,” President Cesare Ardito remarked at the close of the sessions, “gives us an important platform to bring the voice of Italians in the United Kingdom into the European debate. It is especially gratifying to see an event of this calibre held outside London—particularly for us who operate in the north of England—and to see it so well attended. Relations between the European Union and the UK are clearly improving, with significant results such as the recent change to absence rules for holders of pre-settled status; however, much work remains to ensure full and stable protections for Europeans in the UK.”

The Manchester Comites intends to build on this progress by strengthening ties with local, British, and European institutions, and by promoting initiatives for dialogue, training, and networking that highlight the contribution of Italians in England within the broader European context.