The agreement with the European Union will not open the door to an unlimited influx of new residents in San Marino. Luca Beccari has moved to reassure the public on the quotas agreed with Brussels, arguing that the figures are in line with numbers the country already manages. On the other hand, the deal could make life considerably easier for San Marino citizens who wish to study or work within the EU.
The explanations from the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs were reported by San Marino RTV, in a segment dedicated to the PDCS (Christian Democratic Party) series of meetings titled “Le scelte strategiche per il nostro Paese” (“Strategic choices for our country”), organized ahead of the party’s sectional assembly (Consulta delle Sezioni) on 24 October.
One of the most debated points concerns precisely the issue of residencies. Beccari recalled that the European Union has acknowledged San Marino’s particular characteristics, agreeing to a system of annual quotas. For EU citizens carrying out an economic activity, the cap is set at 3% of economically active Europeans already residing or staying in the Titano the previous year. According to simulations by the Foreign Secretariat, this amounts to roughly one hundred permits per year.
According to the secretary, this is a manageable figure: San Marino already handles higher numbers through its various forms of residency and renewable residence permits. The latter, RTV reports, make up the largest share.
Beccari also pointed to the country’s need for skills and expertise. Doctors, judges, executives, entrepreneurs and other professionals can all contribute to the country’s activities and services. Part of the residencies and permits, moreover, concerns family reunification.
The other side of the agreement concerns those who wish to leave the Titano. Studying, living and working within the European Union could become significantly easier, particularly for San Marino citizens who do not hold a second nationality. Today, Beccari explained, access to doctoral programs, scholarships and experiences abroad can require special visas and diplomatic intervention, with no guarantee of success. Freedom of movement would help overcome these obstacles.
The discussion also touched on the housing issue, which has a direct impact on young people’s ability to become independent. As San Marino RTV reports, speakers pointed to the need for extraordinary measures and a comprehensive approach, given that the causes are varied and require responses capable of tackling them together.
The Christian Democratic Party’s series of meetings also addressed other topics, including digital transition, data protection, pensions and the sustainability of the welfare system, with the goal of not shifting the burden onto future generations. Among the priorities discussed was also the central role of the Grand and General Council (Consiglio Grande e Generale) in institutional reforms.
