Bulgaria Blocks Andorra's EU Pact with San Marino Over Frozen Funds Dispute

Andorra's EU association agreement with San Marino remains stalled in COREPER after Bulgaria maintained its technical reservation during a meeting on Wednesday, further delaying approval amid an ongoing financial dispute involving San Marino.

The Committee of Permanent Representatives failed to secure the required unanimity at its latest session, prompting the government to address the holdup during a Council of Ministers press conference. Bulgarian diplomats have held firm on their position, linked to tensions over funds frozen by a San Marino bank affecting a Bulgarian investor, according to diplomatic sources.

Earlier on Monday, Foreign Affairs Minister Imma Tor met with Bulgarian Ambassador Todor Hristov Stoyanov, who presented copies of his credentials. During the discussion, Stoyanov expressed hope for a swift resolution to the blockage, stressing that the issue was "alien" to Andorra. The meeting coincided with another COREPER session where the pact appeared on the agenda but again lacked consensus due to Bulgaria's stance.

Government sources confirmed the association agreement featured prominently in the talks, alongside plans for a double taxation treaty and ski resort cooperation. The Cypriot EU Council presidency aims to finalize the matter before its term ends this month, with another COREPER meeting scheduled in the coming days.

No official confirmation links the Bulgarian reservation directly to the financial matter, and involved parties have stayed discreet. The trilateral pact, now in an advanced negotiation phase, faces repeated setbacks despite intensified diplomatic efforts over recent weeks.