Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President of the European Commission, accompanied by a high and qualified Delegation, paid for the first time a visit to San Marino

He was welcomed during the morning at Palazzo Begni by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Luca Beccari, with whom he had a tête-a-tête meeting. Subsequently, Vice-President Šefčovič met with a large Government Delegation made up of the Ministers of Industry Fabio Righi, of Justice Massimo Andrea Ugolini, of Education Andrea Belluzzi and of Health Roberto Ciavatta, in addition to some Officials of the Foreign Affairs Department.

The visit of Vice-President Šefčovič was particularly important, also in the light of the forthcoming 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between San Marino and the then European Economic Community. This visit testifies to the closeness and interest in fostering the maintenance of close ties with the ancient Republic, also by virtue of its innate inclination towards the founding values of a united Europe, such as respect, tolerance, protection of the law and integration.

The meeting focused on the progress made in the ongoing negotiations for the conclusion of the Association Agreement, also in the light of the momentum of the last few months, favoured by a fruitful conduct of the negotiations by the Vice-President, which will hopefully lead to a rapid finalisation of the essential elements of the Agreement. In emphasising the historic importance of the Vice-President's visit, Minister Beccari expressed his appreciation for the willingness to collaborate in view of the conclusion of this important Agreement for the Republic, hopefully by the end of the current year, which will duly take into account San Marino’s specificities. The Ministers also expressed their appreciation for today's important visit, which will considerably accelerate the negotiations in view of the conclusion of the Agreement, also in their respective areas of competence.

The Vice-President expressed his willingness to accompany this last negotiating period, fully sharing the prerogatives and needs of the Republic of San Marino. In this regard, he confirmed the full availability of the European Commission to provide know-how and attention to the positioning of San Marino in the Single Market, so that it may be considered on an equal footing with all members. Šefčovič also encouraged to work and expressed his positive opinion on the new opportunities that the Agreement will offer to San Marino, with particular reference to businesses, students and the economy in general.

Vice-President Šefčovič also reiterated that the content of the Agreement is such that it is the most all-encompassing Association Agreement and that its scope is even broader than all other similar agreements between the EU and other third countries.

Subsequently, the two delegations were granted a public Audience by the Their Excellencies the Captains Regent, H.E. Maria Luisa Berti and H.E. Manuel Ciavatta. The Guest expressed his high appreciation and gratitude towards San Marino for having believed in and re-established relations in these last few difficult years characterised by various challenges, from the pandemic to the conflict in Ukraine, with its heavy economic and humanitarian repercussions. In the latter regard, the Vice-President applauded the Republic's strong commitment to welcoming hundreds of Ukrainian refugees.

The Audience was followed by a meeting with the members of the Permanent Parliamentary Commission for Foreign Affairs, which preceded a press conference.

The visit of the EU delegation will continue in the afternoon at Palazzo Begni with a meeting with San Marino business associations and trade unions.

San Marino, 20 January 2023