July 18, 2023
San Marino is the third smallest state in Europe and only recently, in February 2002 joined the EUSAIR, by becoming its tenth participating country. Our Youth Manifesto Tour made its last stop in this beautiful city.
In partnership with the European Commission and in cooperation with European Affairs Directorate of San Marino, CDI organized on 14th of July a seminar that gathered representatives of EUSAIR, IPA Adrion Programme, different ministries, university and youth NGOs discussing on the achievements and challenges of San Marino’s stakeholders’ participation in EUSAIR and IPA Adrion.
Since 2006, San Marino has undertaken youth-centered policies and cooperation actions aimed at addressing youth needs. In this framework, the event was the first of this kind supporting these efforts also in the framework of San Marino’s recent membership in EUSAIR and IPA Adrion programme.
Mr. Andrea BELLUZZI, Minister of Education and Culture, University and Scientific Research, Youth Policies during his opening remarks directed his attention to youth policies as an issue than San Marino holds dear. ‘In our country youth policies are considered a field of intervention compared with other areas of our political agenda. In 2007 San Marino Parliament approved the law for the implementation of youth policies which was in favor of young people from 18-32 years old. This law established the Commission for Youth Policies, which is a body appointed by parliament that among other functions that of participating in the youth international bodies focused on the conditions of young people and youth policies. This today’s event shows our commitment toward youth and consolidates our position in EUSAIR strategy.’
Ms. Elisabetta BUCCI, the National Coordinator for San Marino in EUSAIR, stated that: ‘Despite the fact that participating in the IPA programmes represents a novelty in San Marino, there is a strong interest by academic institutions, civil society and youth organizations to learn more and to apply in the open calls, which was shown during the first info day on regarding IPA programmes organized in May 2022.’
Lidija PANSEGRAU HADROVIĆ, Deputy National Coordinator of EUSAIR in Croatia, the country that holds this year’s presidency, pointed out during the seminar the importance of bringing together governmental institutions, educational institutions and youth. ‘We have to involve them in what we do. We hope to create a good foundation by asking young people to tell us what they want to do. We want to include them at the government level and in the strategy pillars as well, in the real work of the strategy. This is our goal, to have the youth council until the end of the EUSAIR presidency.’
While the representative of INTERREG IPA ADRION Programme, Mr. Lodovico GHERARDI expressed his willingness to share the long experience of Adrion and Balkan countries with San Marino in order for them to approach the European funds. Among others he put an emphasis on the importance of mobility: ‘Mobility as a connection in the region is very important, not only in terms of transport but also in terms of connecting and providing opportunity exchanges of the east part of the region with the west.’
Increase of partnerships, investments in human capital and social development actions, access to funding and boosting of mobility were the main topics and processes discussed by the participants, who agreed to further work in consolidating cooperation and networking in the framework of EUSAIR and IPA Adrion programme.
Consult the event’s agenda here
PowerPoint Presentation:
More information about CDI’s engagement in “Raising awareness on the Youth Manifesto in the Western Balkans” can be found here.
