The association agreement between San Marino and the European Union is entering its final stretch after negotiations lasting more than ten years. Taking stock of the process and its implications is Foreign Secretary Luca Beccari, in an interview published today by Corriere Romagna. On the table are the next steps toward ratification, but also the expected benefits for businesses, banks and citizens, the referendum question, and the Bulgaria case.
The timeline outlined envisages a pre-signing by member states in September, followed by the signature of the European Commission and the subsequent passage through the European Parliament. The agreement will then have to return to Mount Titano for ratification by the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Grand and General Council (Consiglio Grande e Generale).
“I never lost confidence, this path was also wanted by Europe”
In the interview, Beccari insists he never considered the goal unreachable, despite the slowdowns that marked the final phase of the process.
“I never lost confidence in this goal, not out of blind optimism but because this is a path that was strongly desired by our European counterpart as well, enjoying the political support of all 27 member states. The events that slowed down the process could not compromise its successful outcome,” the Foreign Secretary states.
Beccari also responds to criticism from the opposition: “Opposition parties do their job, so it’s normal for them to prod the government following their own narrative.” However, he adds that “those who foresaw failure got their assessment wrong.”
Referendum, Beccari: “Better in a few years to assess the agreement’s effects”
One part of the interview concerns the request for a referendum on the association agreement, put forward by DML and several committees. Beccari draws a distinction between those who view the consultation as a tool tied to the importance of the matter and those who, in his view, would rather use it as a political weapon.
“Citizens will be able and will need to express their views at a later stage to assess how well the agreement is working, given that signing it will not upend anyone’s life nor the distinctive features of our Republic,” he argues.
For the Foreign Secretary, it would therefore be preferable to evaluate the agreement after having concretely experienced its effects: “It would be better to aim for a referendum in a few years’ time, as a useful tool to gauge what might need adjusting.”
Single market, San Marino businesses set to widen their reach
It is on the economic front that Beccari identifies one of the most significant consequences of the association. “Integration into the single market will have a very strong impact for businesses of every size on the exchange of goods and services, expanding their reference market by overcoming restrictions, barriers and complexities.”
The goal is to allow San Marino companies to operate in the European market with fewer obstacles, while at the same time building a more structured relationship between Mount Titano and Brussels. According to Beccari, the agreement will allow San Marino to “engage in dialogue with the EU, fine-tuning its approach and making integration a smooth process.”
Banks and financial services, new opportunities with access to the European market
Among the sectors expected to be most affected by the agreement is also banking and finance. Beccari predicts “a positive impact for our financial system, overcoming the difficulties of the past.”
The Secretary speaks of “greater business opportunities for banks and a wider market, but also the chance to have access to financial services that are currently lacking.” A development that, in the government’s view, should therefore broaden the possibilities available to both operators and San Marino’s economic system.
From healthcare to public procurement, what should change for citizens and businesses
The agreement, Beccari points out in his interview with Corriere Romagna, does not concern businesses alone. Its effects should also extend to education, employment, healthcare, documents and participation in public tenders.
“For example, someone who gets injured while in a European country will no longer receive coverage from their own insurance, but from that of their home state,” Beccari explains.
The underlying principle of the agreement, he continues, is that “this agreement establishes a point of equivalence between San Marino citizens and businesses and their European counterparts.” This, he says, should make it possible to address several current difficulties, “from documents that go unrecognized to IT systems, all the way to the ability to take part in public tenders.”
The Bulgaria case and the overcome veto: “The new government cooperated with San Marino”
The interview also addresses the Bulgaria chapter, which contributed to slowing down the process. Beccari links the affair to pressure from Bulgarian investors following their failed takeover bid for Banca di San Marino and the opening of an investigation.
“It is clear that there was pressure from Bulgarian investors who attempted to influence our path through the intervention of their own country,” he states.
The change of three different Bulgarian governments reportedly complicated matters further. However, according to Beccari, the situation was resolved once the new administration took office: “Within a short time of taking office, the current Bulgarian government took charge of the case, verified the facts, cooperated with San Marino at the judicial level, and then lifted its reservation, having assessed that the legal proceedings were following a normal course with all due guarantees.”
The Foreign Secretary finally clarifies that, despite the delay, “Bulgaria never expressed a formal or political position against the agreement.”
