Andorra Opposition Demands EES Rejection Data on Family Reunifications
Concòrdia queries government on family visa denials due to EU Entry/Exit System's 90/180-day rule, seeking transitional measures for overstaying.
Key Points
- Concòrdia seeks number of family reunification rejections solely due to EES 90/180-day limit.
- Concerns over sudden denials for non-EU families with long-term work contracts who previously overstayed.
- Questions transitional regime for pre-EES applicants and handling of overstaying minors.
- Aid groups report no confirmed cases but note potential self-deterrence.
**Andorra la Vella, 27 December 2025** – The opposition party Concòrdia has filed a parliamentary question urging the government to disclose the number of family reunification applications rejected solely due to the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES).
The query, submitted on Wednesday, highlights concerns over the abrupt impact of EES implementation. The system tracks non-EU nationals' stays in the Schengen Area, limiting them to 90 days in any 180-day period. Andorra now requires applicants for immigration permits to comply with this rule, leading to sudden denials for those who previously exceeded the limit.
Concòrdia councillor Núria Segués said the party has received reports of affected non-EU families, particularly those with long-term work contracts. "People with long-term contracts have brought this to our attention," she noted, emphasising the need to assess EES's daily effects on non-EU residents.
Segués raised the issue last Friday during a Consell General appearance by Interior and Justice Minister Ester Molné and Foreign Affairs Minister Imma Tor, who were discussing border agreement negotiations with the EU and neighbours. Molné stated she was unaware of any such cases.
The parliamentary demand seeks details on several fronts. It asks whether the government plans a transitional regime for applicants who met economic requirements before October's new decree but now face rejection. It also queries handling of irregularly documented minors who have overstayed Schengen limits, despite their parents holding valid residence and work permits.
Further questions cover the number of such minors, any shifts in administrative interpretation of stays, and a 2025 breakdown of family reunification decisions, including denial reasons.
Aid groups offered limited confirmation. Red Cross said it knows of no cases and refers such files to social services. Càritas could not verify instances but acknowledged families might avoid applying, anticipating denial.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources: