Andorra-EU Association Deal Hits Technical Tie in Public Opinion Survey

A new survey from Andorra Recerca i Innovació (AR+I) shows public opinion on Andorra's association agreement with the European Union locked in a technical tie, with opposition easing but indecision surging among Andorrans and residents alike.

The Observatory's second semester 2025 results, presented on Monday, indicate 35.2% of Andorrans view the deal positively—virtually unchanged from 35.3% a year earlier—while negative perceptions fell from 44.3% to 34% or 34.1%. The 10-point drop in opposition has shifted primarily to uncertainty, with 20.1% now declining to answer or neutral (up from 12.9%), including 21.9% lacking a clear position and 8.9% opting out. This creates three roughly equal blocs: one-third supportive, one-third opposed, and one-third undecided.

Non-Andorran residents follow a similar pattern, with opposition dropping from 37.2% to 25.8%, support steady at 42.4%, and non-responses rising sharply to 26.5%.

Only 21.1% of Andorrans see the negotiated text as the right path forward, against 38.6% favouring the status quo. An 11.1% prefer a different agreement, 5.6% back full EU membership, and 6.6% want looser ties.

Free movement of people tops concerns at 24.4%, far ahead of tax increases (6.6%), security risks (6.4%), and foreign business competition (6.3%). Benefits appear more dispersed: economic openness (10.6%), worker mobility or easier travel (9.4%), and study opportunities abroad (5.1%).

Awareness is high—88% of Andorrans have heard of the talks—but comprehension lags: just 30% feel well informed, falling to 21.2% among non-citizens. Over 60% rate government communication as poor or fair, with 27.8% deeming it good; 25.3% call it poor and 38.4% regular.

AR+I sociologist Joan Micó, who coordinated the study, highlighted the opposition decline feeding into doubt. "The nearly 10 points drop in negative views have gone, in a very relevant part, to 'don't know'," he said. Better-informed respondents lean supportive, he added, but transparency is lacking on both upsides and downsides. Free movement divides opinion—outbound appeals, inbound alarms—despite many current workers being non-EU nationals who integrate effectively.

Micó linked trends to politics: broad consensus a decade ago has fractured with new parties and 2023 election shifts. Existing EU agreements, from the 1990 trade pact to veterinary, monetary, and tax data deals, retain strong backing at 70-83.3%.