Former EU Parliamentarians Dismiss Risks of Andorra Rejecting EU Association Deal

Former European parliamentarians have dismissed concerns that rejecting Andorra's association agreement with the European Union would pose any threat to the Principality.

Speaking at a seminar organised by the European Association of Former Parliamentarians from Council of Europe member states, Roland Roblain, the association's secretary and a Belgian representative, stated he could see no risk if Andorra voted no in a future referendum on the deal. He cited the United Kingdom's Brexit as evidence that ties with Europe persist beyond formal membership. "Britain said no after saying yes and being part of the Union, but they remain Europeans, like Andorrans. They will always be friends of Europe, whether members or not," Roblain said.

He stressed the importance of citizens receiving full information on the EU's benefits and drawbacks before deciding. "The people must be well informed. This is the big problem, not just in Andorra but in other countries: citizens do not fully understand the Union, what it brings positively, and the few negatives," he added. Roblain placed the onus on politicians to ensure informed choices, describing the outcome as "the will of the people."

Filippo Lombardi, former association president and Swiss senator, echoed this view, rejecting catastrophic scenarios for Andorra outside deeper EU ties. He clarified the debate concerns an association model like Switzerland's, not full membership. "We are not talking about accession yet, neither in Switzerland nor, I believe, in Andorra," Lombardi said. Switzerland maintains numerous bilateral agreements with the EU, currently negotiating more, offering technical and legal cooperation with strong economic impact despite lacking full political integration.

The comments came during the FP-AP seminar at the Andorra la Vella Congress Centre, which gathered around 30 former parliamentarians from 16 European countries. Topics included democracy's challenges amid artificial intelligence and preparations for a 2027 colloquium in Berna on diplomacy in armed conflicts.

Andorran Rosa Maria Mandicó, association president since March and GESCO representative, opened her first council meeting under her leadership. She highlighted recent memberships including Ukraine, Denmark, and Iceland, and noted AI's growing concerns. The inaugural session featured GESCO president Jordi Mas, Andorra la Vella's major consul Sergi González, and Síndic General Carles Ensenyat.