Andorra Government Rejects Concòrdia's Demand to Halt EU Agreement Signing Before Referendum

Government spokesman Guillem Casal rejected calls on Wednesday from Concòrdia to halt the signing process for Andorra's Association Agreement with the European Union until a consultative referendum takes place.

Concòrdia issued a statement demanding the immediate suspension of both signing and ratification procedures, arguing that proceeding without prior public consultation is profoundly undemocratic. The party, which fully endorses a Change.org petition launched this week, contends that the agreement—politically concluded with the European Commission on 12 December 2023—carries extraordinary political, economic and legal weight, with structural impacts on state institutions, the legal framework and citizens' daily lives. It criticised the government's timeline, noting that the text faces a vote in the EU Council of member states on 22 May, followed by signing by European governments and Andorra's executive, before any referendum. Waiting for EU approval, Concòrdia said, creates undue political and institutional pressure on Andorran voters.

Casal dismissed the request, accusing Concòrdia of a language abuse by equating the agreement's signing with its entry into force. He clarified that signing merely stabilises the text, with no legal effect or ratification yet. Further steps remain, including review by the EFTA group, the EU's committee of permanent representatives, formal approval by the EU Council, and passage through the European Parliament. Only afterward will the government call the referendum, followed by potential ratification in the Consell General.

The spokesman described it as curious that parties most critical of the agreement, including Concòrdia, now push hardest for the referendum, suggesting motives tied to the legislative calendar rather than genuine support for EU integration. He downplayed the Change.org petition—promoted by Claror president Artur Homs and backed by Andorra Endavant—which had gathered hundreds of signatures shortly after launch. The platform, he noted, lacks regulated procedures to verify signatories' identities, electoral eligibility or duplicates.

Casal acknowledged that procedural delays and technicalities may cause public fatigue but attributed them to external EU processes, not lack of political will. He stressed the EU's continued interest, particularly under Cyprus's rotating presidency, and called for clear explanations of the phases to avoid confusion.