The EUSAIR family (EU Strategy for the Adriatic-Ionian Region) has been expanded to San Marino which is the 10th participating country in the Adriatic-Ionian macro-regional strategy. This strengthened regional cooperation and broader policy dialogue will result in a more integrated Adriatic-Ionian macro-region, and it will also be a tool to support the enlargement process of the Western Balkans.

San Marino expressed its wish to participate in EUSAIR in order to strengthen the already established cooperation among the member countries of the Adriatic and Ionian macro-region, as well as to contribute to the promotion of common interests related to issues of great strategic importance, such as environment, resources and tourism. The Covid pandemic also reinforced the conviction that regional cooperation, particularly with the neighbouring Italian regions, is essential to deal with the health emergency and to assist citizens.

San Marino is a small republic situated on the Adriatic side of central Italy between the Emilia-Romagna and Marche regions, surrounded on all sides by the Republic of Italy. It is the smallest independent state in Europe after Vatican City and Monaco, covering a land area of just over 61 km2 with a population of 33,562.

All the electrical power is transferred via electricity grid from Italy, San Marino’s main trading partner. The country’s principal resources are industry, tourism, commerce, agriculture, and crafts. It is one of the wealthiest countries in the world as for the GDP per capita, with a figure (45,320 USD) comparable to the most developed European regions.