Andorra Endavant Vows to Halt EU Association Agreement if Elected

Andorra Endavant, the opposition party led by Carine Montaner, has reiterated that it would stop the EU Association Agreement process if it takes office, while insisting on a government-mandated referendum as a matter of fulfilling prior commitments.

In a statement issued the day after the government and key political figures outlined regulations for the upcoming vote, the party separated its support for the consultation from its fundamental rejection of the deal. It described the referendum demand as a push for the executive to honour its pledge to citizens, not an endorsement of the agreement itself.

This position aligns with the party's 2023 election programme. Andorra Endavant has argued throughout the legislative term that the pact's downsides, particularly to the principality's selective immigration policy, outweigh any gains. It contends the agreement would impose quotas on both active and passive immigration, modify entry criteria, and change criminal background checks, thereby curbing Andorra's ability to tailor policies to its size, needs, and capacity.

The party has pursued scrutiny through parliamentary queries on the agreement's content, impact assessments, referendum scheduling, communication expenses, and any provisional implementation. Public engagement efforts included an independent study by consultancy GIDE, presented at a conference in Andorra la Vella in March 2024, explanatory materials on pros and cons, and an AI tool allowing citizens to examine the text.

The statement followed a Thursday presentation of referendum rules by Head of Government Xavier Espot, Democrats parliamentary group leader Jordi Jordana, and former head of government Jaume Bartumeu. While the vote's timing remains undecided—potentially post-elections—the parties involved stressed the political difficulty of backing away from the commitment.

Andorra Endavant emphasised that proceeding with the referendum does not imply a shift in its opposition. Coverage appeared in El Periòdic d'Andorra, Diari d'Andorra, and Altaveu on 31 July 2026.