Green light for information on the Association Agreement with the European Union, but the process must ultimately lead citizens to express their view through a referendum. This is the position of DOMANI – Motus Liberi (D-ML), which welcomes the Government’s decision to launch a communication campaign dedicated to the Agreement, while stressing that such an initiative had already been called for by the movement for some time.
The reference is to resolution number 17 of 4 August, through which the State Congress entrusted a private San Marino company with a 16,000-euro contract for the project “San Marino Europe – Informing to choose” (“San Marino Europa – Informare per scegliere”).
“Finally. This is exactly what DOMANI – Motus Liberi has been advocating for years: on a choice destined to profoundly affect the future of the Republic, it is not enough to ask citizens to trust the assurances of politicians. They must be given the tools to know, understand and evaluate,” the statement reads.
D-ML therefore views positively the decision to invest in communication, but asks that the campaign not be limited to a generic promotion of the Agreement. “The fact that the Government has finally decided to take this path can only be welcomed. But precisely because this information is arriving at such an advanced stage of the process, we expect it to be truthful, thorough and concrete.”
The movement then addresses the details of the 16,000 euros allocated, asking that the investment produce detailed and understandable content. “The 16,000 euros allocated must not translate into a campaign that is simply well packaged from a graphic standpoint, made up of slogans and reassuring images. San Marino’s citizens do not need advertising: they need information.”
According to D-ML, the effects of the Agreement on public administration, businesses, workers, families and individual citizens must be explained in concrete terms. “We need figures, examples, concrete consequences, timeframes, adjustment costs, obligations, opportunities and critical issues. To inform means putting everything on the table: benefits and opportunities, but also costs, obligations, critical points and risks.”
Motus Liberi also seeks clarification on how the contract was awarded to the external company. The movement specifies that it does not object “a priori to the use of outside professionals, especially if this follows a proper tender process,” but notes that 16,000 euros for a single subject represents “a significant investment,” especially considering the work already carried out by the Administration’s own offices.
“It will therefore be important to know how the company was selected and what concrete results the Government expects to achieve,” the statement continues.
D-ML makes clear, however, that its goal is not to dispute the decision to launch the communication effort. “The point today is not to argue over the choice to communicate. The point is that finally, communication is happening. And now it must be done well.”
The hope is that the project will mark the start of a broader process aimed not only at citizens but also at the public administration, businesses and social partners, with specific information on the effects of the Association Agreement.
It is on the title chosen for the campaign, however, “San Marino Europe – Informing to choose,” that Motus Liberi builds its political request. “That phrase ‘to choose’ presupposes that citizens must be given the chance to express their opinion. For DOMANI – Motus Liberi, this means one very simple thing: information first, then the vote.”
The movement is therefore renewing its call for a referendum on the Association Agreement, specifying that the vote should take place before the final decision and after a complete information process.
“If a referendum on the Agreement is wanted, it must be a preventive and informed referendum, not an ideological one, in which citizens are given the means to genuinely understand the opportunities, costs, obligations and critical issues of the Agreement.”
“We are not interested in this campaign telling San Marino’s citizens what to think about Europe,” DOMANI – Motus Liberi concludes. “We are interested in it allowing them to understand what will actually change for San Marino. This is what we have been asking for years. If the Government has finally decided to do so, we can only see it as a positive step. Now we expect substance.”
