San Marino says goodbye to Russia destination Brussels: ready to enter the EU
Andorra, Monaco and San Marino soon in the European Union as associated states. In the small country, an autonomous and independent enclave on Italian territory, it has even been talked about since 2015 when negotiations between the Republic and the Union were started. Well, on top of Monte Titano, in Palazzo Pubblico, between the walls and fortresses overlooking the Riviera, these are hectic days: getting ready and waiting the official visit of the Vice-President of the European Commission Maros Sefcovic which will be welcomed with great pomp – even with a summit open to the international press – in the late morning of 20 January. Other times than 2019 when Russian Foreign Minister Sergej Lavrov was received on the Titan at the beginning of March of that year.
Relations with Russia
Now just two years after the arrival of the Russian Sputnik vaccine (the result of a diplomatic agreement) on the territory but with the conflict in Ukraine still ongoing, institutional relations between San Marino and Russia they have changed and are similar (including sanctions) to those – very tense – between Rome and Moscow. The tide changes and Sefcovic’s visit is seen as the start of the final negotiation process which should open the doors of the Union to the small state (and to the other two micro-states Andorra and Monaco) by 2023. Already in June 2022 Sefcovic was the spokesman for the enthusiasm of Brussels, decision to speed up the times of association also with reference to the war. In the current international context, the strengthening of Western unity and of Europe is our moral imperative. And again, according to Sefcovic, the partnership between the three microstates and the Union will be unprecedented. It will be as deep and special as possible.
The entry is associated with states
A premise must be made to this. The European Union has determined a conclude negotiations on the entry of Andorra, Monaco and San Marino as associated states but not as member states. The population amounts to a few thousand citizens, the minimum territorial area compared to that of all the states currently members of the Union, information that would make it difficult to equate micro-states as regards access to the right of veto or the turn six-monthly presidency of the council. The coming weeks will be crucial to define what will be the changes that will affect the Republic after the association. San Marino has tied up chords — especially commercial but not only — with the European Union since 1983. Currently the small state outside the Schengen area but in fact, from a commercial point of view, the customs union with Brussels has been ratified since 1991 (since 2002 it has also been valid for agricultural products). Meanwhile, the resident citizenship of the Titan will also be involved in the historical passage.
Upcoming meetings
On January 25, a cycle of meetings with the direction of the secretariat of state for foreign affairs and the university with a focus on the issues and changes that the association between San Marino and the European Union will introduce in detail. The cycle of meetings will be aimed at citizens with a program that includes a total of six conferences.
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January 20, 2023 (change January 20, 2023 | 08:59)
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