On Tuesday evening the second public meeting of the cycle of meetings entitled "San Marino towards Europe. The contents of the Agreement”took place. The event was sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, organized by Mutual Aid Society (SUMS) in cooperation with the Research Centre for International Relations of the University of San Marino.

Following the broad participation on the first evening, in the second meeting as well, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Luca Beccari, the President of SUMS, Marino Albani, and Professor Michele Chiaruzzi discussed in depth the issues related to the Association Agreement between San Marino and the European Union, with a particular focus on the free movement of goods, persons, and workers. There was also a large and interested audience of young people and students who asked for clarifications.

First, the characteristics of the European single market were illustrated, as it offers reciprocity of treatment, ensuring legal certainty, fair competition and transnational cooperation, reducing barriers and bringing common benefits to recipients.

Minister Beccari reaffirmed the principle of equivalence between San Marino people and businesses and the European ones, the principle of non-discrimination, and he explained in detail the right of establishment and the freedom to provide services.

While illustrating the free movement of goods, Minister Beccari explained issues relating to the T2 administrative document, consumer protection and compliance with European certification standards.

“The Association Agreement includes an important tool for San Marino,” declared Minister Beccari “namely a general safeguard clause that the Republic can invoke on any issue, should any distortions occur that are relevant for the maintenance of San Marino socio-economic situation, resulting precisely from the application and implementation of the Agreement.”

The most significant derogations negotiated by San Marino were also presented to the public;  in particular concerning the free movement of persons, through the introduction of annual quotas, and the procedures for granting residence permits were explored in depth.

The President of SUMS, Marino Albani, expressed great satisfaction with the large audience that attended the meetings, which have been highly appreciated also thanks to the illustrious speakers. This testifies to the importance of the project for the dissemination on the topics of the agreement.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs would like to point out that the meeting was recorded and will be broadcast on Friday 15 March at 9:30 pm on San Marino RTV, and that the next public meeting will take placeon Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 8:45 pm in the Little Tony Hallin Serravalle.

San Marino, 14 March 2024