Concòrdia demands referendum on Andorra-EU deal before ratification

Concòrdia has called for an immediate suspension of the signing and ratification process for Andorra's association agreement with the European Union, urging a referendum beforehand to allow citizens access to full information on its implications.

Party leader Cerni Escalé argued that the vote should occur after European approval but before parliamentary ratification by the Consell General, stressing the need for citizens to know both positive and negative effects. He described the agreement as having more negative than positive impacts on Andorra's future. In a statement, Concòrdia labelled the government's advance without prior consultation as "profoundly undemocratic," warning that delaying the referendum until after EU commitments creates undue political and institutional pressure on voters.

The party fully endorsed a Change.org petition launched on 12 May by Artur Homs, president of the Laurediana platform Claror, which had gathered over 1,250 signatures. Concòrdia noted the negotiations concluded politically on 12 December 2023, and criticised the executive—led by Demòcrates per Andorra—for not holding the consultative referendum under Article 76 of the Constitution despite prior commitments. The party highlighted the agreement's extraordinary political, economic, and legal significance, with structural effects on state institutions, legal order, and daily life, while affirming Andorra's inherent European ties but cautioning against upsetting a historical balance.

Government spokesperson Guillem Casal dismissed the demands during a press conference after the Council of Ministers meeting on 14 May. He accused Concòrdia of a "language abuse" by equating the signing—intended only to stabilise the text—with the agreement's entry into force, which requires Consell General ratification. Casal reiterated the timeline: after EU parliamentary approval, a referendum would precede General Council ratification. He questioned the timing of opposition parties least interested in the deal, suggesting electoral motives, and downplayed the petition due to unverifiable signatures on the digital platform, including residency or duplicates.

Casal called for calm amid delays from external EU procedures, noting ongoing European interest, particularly under Cyprus's presidency, and emphasised transparency in the process. The government plans to maintain its schedule, with a Council of the EU vote scheduled for 22 May.