Europe

San Marino and Italy Strengthen Their Ties

Italian Minister Gentiloni and San Marino’s Secretary of State Valentini meet to discuss the strengthening of cooperation

June 13th, 2016
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On 6th of June at the Farnesina, Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Paolo Gentiloni, received the Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs of the Republic of San Marino, Pasquale Valentini. The meeting was focused in particualr on transparency in the economy and financial cooperation between Rome and San Marino.

The talks also included concrete projects regarding the possibility of relaunching cooperation on issues such as science and technology, transport and telecommunications. They agreed on the necessity of enforcing a deal which would enable San Marino to use Rimini´s International Airport, with a view to boosting the Republic’s regional economy in addition to that of the Regions of Marche and Emilia-Romagna. 

Furthermore, during the meeting, San Marino’s representatives outlined how to improve ongoing negotiations in order to finalize an Association Agreement with the European Union. Also the Italian Minister expressed his hope that this project will be realised in a positive and constructive climate in order to integrate small countries into the Common Market.

This meeting allowed Italy and San Marino to further discuss important international issues such as the humanitarian response to the migration crisis, to which the Government of San Marino actively contributes.

San Marino and Italy have had diplomatic relations since the Italian Unification in 1861. Nowadays, Italy is the main commercial partner of San Marino and it is also the country with which San Marino has the widest and most structured relationship. The two countries have concluded several agreements on different issues, from finance to security. The most important of which is the Convention of Friendship and Good Neighbourhood of 1939 that sets the basic principles for the collaboration and cooperation between the countries.  

References

Cultural Diplomacy News
Valentina Mazzone, CD News