Andorra's Espot Slams Bulgaria's Block on EU Pact as Baffling Obstacle

Andorra's head of government, Xavier Espot, acknowledged on Thursday that the ongoing resistance to approving the association agreement with the European Union is becoming increasingly hard to understand. Speaking ahead of the Pyrenees Business Meeting and during a dialogue with journalist Josep Puigbó at the event, Espot pointed to Bulgaria's refusal to grant approval in the Council of the EU as the key obstacle.

Espot described the issue as a bilateral matter between Bulgaria and San Marino, entirely unrelated to Andorra. "Unfortunately, it is a question that is very alien to us because it is a bilateral question," he said. He noted that the disagreement—linked to a financial scandal, according to government sources—has stalled progress, despite the agreement being negotiated jointly by Andorra and San Marino. Because the pact requires unanimous approval from all 27 EU member states in the Council, a single holdout prevents advancement. "If one country, a single country, does not support this agreement or postpones it, this approval cannot take place," Espot emphasised.

Despite the impasse, Espot expressed optimism that diplomatic efforts would resolve it soon. He highlighted work by Andorra and San Marino "from discretion," alongside active involvement from EU institutions and several member states. The head of government anticipates a breakthrough in the coming weeks and hopes to see the European Parliament ratify the deal before his term ends.

Espot also conceded that the subsequent referendum in Andorra might not occur within original timelines. He recalled that negotiations spanned a decade, delayed by events including the Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit, but stressed the agreement's importance for the Principat's future.

In other remarks at the event, Espot underscored Andorra's vital role in the Pyrenees' economic transformation, calling for diversification and cooperation among mountain economies. "The Pyrenees cannot be understood without the Principality of Andorra," he stated.