The Association Agreement with the European Union and the strengthening of fiscal and financial cooperation between San Marino and Italy. These were the central themes of the official visit paid to Titano by Italy’s deputy minister of Economy and Finance, Maurizio Leo.
The first meeting took place at Palazzo Begni, where Leo was welcomed by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Luca Beccari and the Secretary of State for Finance and Budget Marco Gatti. The Secretary of State for Industry, Rossano Fabbri, and the Secretary of State for Health, Massimo Andrea Ugolini, also took part in the meeting.
“The talks focused on the new horizon opened up by the Association Agreement with the European Union, the framework within which financial and fiscal cooperation between the two states is set and strengthened,” reads a statement from the Secretariat of State for Finance and Budget.
The discussion also touched on issues relating to cross-border workers and the social security treatment of pensioners — matters that, according to the statement, are expected to be gradually resolved as part of the harmonisation process with the European regulatory framework.
“Maurizio Leo’s presence on Titano is testament to the level of reputation and reliability we have built up over these years,” said Marco Gatti. “The Association Agreement with the European Union redefines the coordinates of our growth, and the partnership with Italy is its fundamental pillar. We want to eliminate every uncertainty that penalises citizens and businesses, guaranteeing solid protections for our workers and pensioners.”
In the afternoon, talks continued with the trade unions CDLS, CSdL and USL and with representatives of the Interregional Trade Union Council. The meeting served to explore in greater depth the concrete implications of the European path and the protections needed for San Marino’s economic and social system.
“The push towards the European single market requires operational safeguards for the productive and social fabric, fostering a climate of legal certainty capable of overcoming the remaining complexities of the past,” the statement continues.
The delegation subsequently moved to Palazzo Pubblico, where Italian senator Domenica Spinelli was also present. Over recent years, the senator has followed the tax-related dossiers between Italy and San Marino, starting with the proposals put forward in 2023 to overcome the differing interpretations held by the two administrations regarding the treatment of pension benefits.
“Welcoming the delegation here, at the heart of San Marino’s institutions, shows the scale of the work carried out in recent years,” Domenica Spinelli stressed. “Politics must be able to solve real problems. Today we mark a further step in a shared journey with Deputy Minister Leo and Secretary Gatti. The upcoming technical working groups will be the real operational test, transforming political goodwill into stable, definitive regulatory solutions, far removed from announcements or speculation.”
The visit concluded in the Sala dei XII with an audience granted by the Captains Regent, Alice Mina and Vladimiro Selva. During the ceremony, Maurizio Leo was awarded the Order of Sant’Agata, with the rank of Knight Grand Cross, in recognition of his commitment to strengthening relations between San Marino and Italy.
