Andorra Endavant Vows to Halt EU Association Agreement if Elected

Andorra Endavant, the opposition party led by Carine Montaner, has reaffirmed its commitment to halt the EU Association Agreement process if it gains power, while pressing the government to hold a binding referendum on the pact.

The party outlined this stance in a statement released the day after members of the Pacte d'Estat—including Head of Government Xavier Espot, Democrats parliamentary group leader Jordi Jordina, and former head of government Jaume Bartumeu—presented the referendum regulations. Andorra Endavant stressed that advocating for the vote enforces the executive's promise to citizens, rather than signaling support for the agreement itself.

This mirrors the position in its 2023 election platform. Throughout the legislative term, the party has claimed the pact's drawbacks outweigh its advantages, with a particular focus on immigration policy. It warns that the deal would end Andorra's selective model by introducing quotas for active and passive immigration, altering entry requirements, and revising criminal record checks. Such changes, it argues, would strip the principality of control over who enters the country, under what conditions, and in line with its specific needs and capacity.

Andorra Endavant has sought answers via parliamentary questions on the agreement's details, impact studies, referendum timing, publicity costs, and any interim steps. It has also engaged the public through an independent analysis by consultancy GIDE, unveiled at a March 2024 conference in Andorra la Vella, alongside materials weighing benefits against risks and an AI tool for reviewing the text.

The party made clear that supporting the consultation leaves its core opposition unchanged. While no date has been set for the vote—possibly after elections—the Pacte d'Estat participants noted the challenges in abandoning the pledge. Coverage featured in El Periódic d'Andorra, Diari d'Andorra, and Altaveu.