Andorra Union Slams Late Inclusion in EU Association Pact After Text Finalised

The Unió Sindical d’Andorra (USdA) has criticised the government’s late expansion of the State Pact on Andorra’s association agreement with the European Union, arguing it comes after the text was already finalised and limits meaningful input from social partners.

In a statement, the union called the inclusion of economic and social actors a positive step but highlighted its timing following a political crisis triggered by the temporary exit of Progressistes-SDP, led by Jaume Bartumeu, who now holds no parliamentary seats. This development, USdA said, exposed structural shortcomings in social dialogue and democratic representation, raising questions about whether Andorra is truly debating its European future or merely seeking post-decision consensus.

The union tied its participation in the pact to the holding of a referendum, insisting the process must feature maximum transparency, effective involvement for all partners, balance between economic interests and social rights, and a plural debate that addresses labour perspectives alongside economic ones. With the agreement poised to affect the labour market, working conditions, economic regulation, and social model, USdA described it as one of the country’s most consequential decisions in decades.

Gabriel Ubach, the union’s general secretary, said the group was “totally against this agreement,” noting that “no one has explained to the unions what real benefits it will bring. Andorra needs a relationship with Europe, but not this agreement. What needs to be guaranteed are real social and labour rights.”

USdA pointed to voting imbalances among Andorra’s roughly 90,000 residents, where only about 30,000 nationals can participate and the last general elections drew 20,057 voters—around a quarter of the population influencing the General Council. While not questioning the system’s institutional legitimacy, the union stressed the need to strengthen participation mechanisms for strategic issues like EU ties. It also noted an imbalance in representation, with businesses holding multiple organisations while private-sector workers rely primarily on USdA.

A recent Council of Europe report found Andorra meeting just one of seven criteria on trade union rights, underscoring gaps in collective protections and social dialogue. Despite institutional claims of broad consensus, not all parliamentary parties support the deal, keeping societal debate open.