EN   EN 
 
 
 EUROPEAN  
COMMISSION   
Brussels, 14.2.2022  
COM(2022) 44 final  
 
ADDENDUM TO THE COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE 
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND 
SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS  
concerning the European Union Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region   
 
1 INCLUSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SAN MARINO  IN THE EU STRATEGY FOR 
THE ADRIATIC AND IONIAN REGION  
1. INTRODUCTION  
In December 2012 , the European Council requested the European Commission to present an 
EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR) by the end of 2014 . Following this 
request, the Commission extensive ly consulted  stakeholders . On 17 June 2014 , it adopted the 
EUSA IR Communication1 . 
As a result , the Council endorsed the EUSAIR in its conclusions of 24  October  20142 and 
‘called on all relevant actors to implement it without delay ’. The Addendum to the EUSAIR 
Communication (COM(2020)  132 final of 2  April 2020 ) formal ly inclu ded the Republic of 
North Macedonia in the EUSAIR.  
The general objective of the EUSAIR  is to promote sustainable economic and social 
prosperity in the region by: 
 creating growth and jobs ; 
 improving the region’s  attractiveness, competitiveness and connectivity ; 
 preserving the environment ; and  
 ensuring healthy and balanced marine and coastal ecosystems.  
The EUSAIR  also aids the EU enlargement process . It enables  five Western Balkans countries 
to cooperate on a par with Member States while promoting  the implementation of certain EU 
policies and strategies at macro-regional level .  
To achieve its objectives, t he governments of the EUSAIR  participating countries3 commit to 
align their priorities and to mobilis e relevant EU and national funding to carry out the action 
plan4. This action plan aims to make the EUSAIR  operational by identifying specific priorities 
(pillars and topics)  and actions  for the wider region.  
The EUSAIR  remains open to other partners in the region . The Adriatic and Ionian Council  / 
EUSAIR ministerial meeting5 of 11 May 2021 responded positively to the Republic of San 
Marino ’s request to join the EUSAIR. The meeting’s Izola  Declaration  invited the Council to 
take all necessary steps to include San Marino in the EUSAIR  as the tenth participating 
country . On 15  June 2021, the four EU Member States participating in the EUSAIR sent a 
letter to the Portuguese  Presidency of the Council backing this request.  
In its conclusions of  18 November  2021 , the Council welcomed and accepted the request by 
the countries participating in the EUSAIR . It invited the Commission to take the necessary 
steps to include San Marino  in the EUSAIR , to amend the strategy accordingly  and to submit 
it to the Council6. 
 
                                                           
1 COM(2014) 357 final  of 17.6.2014.  
2 Conclusions of the European Council of 23 and 24 October 2014 (EUCO 169/14 ). 
3 Four EU Member States (Croatia, Greece, Italy and Slovenia ) and five Western Balkan countries 
(Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia ). 
4 SWD(2014) 190 fina l. 
5 The Ministers of Foreign Affairs and the participating countries ’ authorities responsible for EU funds  
represent the EUSAIR and the Adriatic -Ionian Initiative  at political level.  As of the first EUSAIR 
annual forum (Dubrovnik  (Croatia),  2-13 May 2016), they form the Adriatic and Ionian Council / 
EUSAIR Ministerial meeting.  
6 General Affairs Council  of 18 November 2021 . 
 
2 2. INCLUSION OF SAN MARINO  IN THE EUSAIR  
1. Political background  
San Marino is a close neighbour and partner of the EU and shares its core values.  
EU-San Marino relations, established in 1983 , are based on a range of bilateral agreements . 
They cover areas such as customs, the taxation of private savings income  and monetary 
issues . Since 2015, the EU has been negotiating association agreement s (AAs) with Andorra, 
Monaco and San Marino . Under such an AA, the three countries  would be able to  participat e 
in the single market  and cooperat e with the EU  on flanking policies .  
Given its dimension and geographical location  in the Adriatic region, the territory of San 
Marino overlaps with the area where  the EUSAIR carries out its  projects, action s and 
activities. The government of San Marino fully shares the objectives of the EUSAIR and the 
principle of multilevel and multi -stakeholder cooperation.  
2. San Marino ’s participation in the EUSAIR  
This Addendum to t he EUSAIR Communication sets out the roles and responsibilities of 
San Marino  in the multilevel governance of the EUSAIR and its relation with other 
participating countries.  
For San Marino , participation in the EUSAIR entails cooperating and coordinating with other 
countries in the region in planning national , EU and other sources of funding to carry out its 
action plan.  
With its inclusion in the EUSAIR, San Marino will have the right to participate in the 
EUSAIR governance structures  including its political, coordination and op erational levels7. 
3. CONCLUSIONS  
The inclusion of San Marino  in the EUSAIR will step up  cooperation in the Adriatic and 
Ionian region. It will also strengthen the EUSAIR partnership and the relations between San 
Marino and the EU.  
Participation in the EUSAIR, on a level playing field wi th all participating countries , will 
enable  San Marino  to become better acquainted with the governance mechanisms of an EU 
macro -regional strategy . At the same time,  San Marino will gain experience and involvement 
in implementing EU policies.  
A new map of the  EUSAIR  countries is enclosed.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                           
7 Ministerial meetings  (political level ), EUSAIR governing board (coordination level ) and thematic 
steering groups  (operational level ).  
 
3 MAP OF THE COUNTRIES OF THE EU STRATEGY FOR THE ADRIATIC AND IONIAN REGION