Law Professor to Lecture on Andorra-EU Association Ahead of Referendum

Patrick Klaousen, a law professor at the University of Rennes 1 and former staff member at the Court of Justice of the European Communities, will deliver a lecture on Andorra's relationship with the EU this Wednesday at 7:30pm in the Escaldes town hall auditorium.

The event comes ahead of the planned referendum on the association agreement with the European Union, expected this year after 15 years of negotiations that concluded in December 2023. Klaousen aims to outline the agreement's key phases, remaining steps before final adoption, and its specific features, including challenges in implementation.

He described the current Andorra-EU relationship as asymmetric, built since 1990 on sectoral agreements that the new pact would consolidate into a single legal framework. A core element involves aligning Andorran legislation and practices with the EU's extensive body of law, known as the *acquis communautaire*.

The banking sector stands to gain improved access to the European financial services market through compliance measures in the deal, Klaousen noted. He emphasised informing the public ahead of the vote, which will have significant medium- and long-term impacts on Andorra's economic and social model.

Facing the referendum, he stressed the need for voters to understand the agreement's details and make informed choices amid substantial economic and social challenges. A successful campaign, he said, relies on honest arguments.

Klaousen cautioned against viewing the referendum as a plebiscite on the government, urging focus on the question itself rather than its proposer. "A referendum is not a plebiscite," he said.

He encouraged maximum attendance at the lecture, adding that light emerges from discussion. Authorities have not yet specified the exact referendum date.