In the morning, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luca Beccari, welcomed the European Union Ambassador to San Marino, H.E. Alexandra Valkenburg, on a farewell visit to Palazzo Begni to conclude her high diplomatic mandate.

During the meeting, Minister Beccari recalled with pleasure and gratitude the four years of Ambassador Valkenburg’s mandate, characterised by global challenges which led to an intensification of cooperation between San Marino and the European Union. The diplomatic mandate of the Ambassador also coincided with the final phase of the negotiation for the Association Agreement between San Marino and the European Union, as well as with the definition of its text.

In this regard, the Ambassador wished the Institutions of San Marino to be able to sign the Association Agreement as soon as possible. She also recalled some of the most important moments of the last four years, such as the first official visit to San Marino by the Vice President of the European Commission, Maroš Šefčovič, on 20 January 2023 and the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Republic of San Marino and the European Union celebrated in 2023.

She expressed her appreciation for the film festival "Europe in San Marino, San Marino in Europe” , organised in March 2023 by the Delegation of the European Union to San Marino, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture.

“In these years, the bilateral relations between San Marino and the European Union have been widely strengthened, ending with the conclusion of the negotiations for the Association Agreement. – declared Minister Luca Beccari – On behalf of the San Marino Government I would like to renew my heartfelt gratitude to Ambassador Alexandra Valkenburg for her cooperation, commitment and dedication in carrying out her diplomatic mandate, and for having acted as a faithful interpreter of the San Marino vision in Brussels”.

At the end of the meeting, Ambassador Valkenburg was received in Audience by the Captains Regent, H.E. Alessandro Rossi and H.E. Milena Gasperoni.

San Marino, 11 July 2024