EU Parliament Backs Exclusive Andorra Association Pact Amid Ratification Divide

The European Parliament has endorsed Andorra's push for an exclusive EU association agreement, urging greater transparency to prevent public misunderstanding and social resistance.

In a provisional report approved by MEPs on 19 January, lawmakers stated the pact must remain "exclusive to the EU" to enable swift entry into force through a coordinated ratification process, avoiding delays from national parliaments. The document praises the deal as the EU's most comprehensive with a third country, tailored to Andorra's size and administrative capacity. This stance aligns directly with Andorra's position to sidestep legal and political hurdles.

Yet Council discussions lean toward a mixed agreement requiring national ratifications. An indicative vote at the 18 November EFTA working group under Danish presidency showed nine member states—including France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Cyprus and Hungary—backing the mixed model, while only Spain, Portugal and Czechia supported the exclusive route. Subsequent meetings saw Portugal shift position, with Spain, Germany and Italy reconsidering theirs.

MEPs stressed the need for straightforward communication about the pact's regulatory impacts and benefits, cautioning that its technical complexity could foster distrust without clear, accessible explanations. They framed integration as an opportunity for growth rather than imposition. The report calls for an EU oversight mechanism to ensure compliance and prevent market distortions, calibrated to Andorra's limited resources. It supports a phased rollout of up to 15 years for sensitive sectors like financial services, conditional on strict adherence to EU rules and supervisor approval. Lawmakers also highlighted potential social tensions from the changes, calling for careful management.

Domestically, Progressistes-SDP reaffirmed its pro-EU commitment at its national council meeting in Escaldes-Engordany over the weekend. Party president Josep Roig described the pact as a top political priority amid a volatile global order accelerating by 2026, citing Russia's war in Ukraine and US expansionism under Trump as threats that leave small nations like Andorra vulnerable. "Andorra cannot afford to stand alone," he said, adding that "sovereignty is not a proclamation but a practice, built through alliances."

Former leader Jaume Bartumeu updated members on the state pact for the agreement, noting widespread EU member state support for a mixed model, now reinforced by majority sentiment in the European Parliament. He called for realistic sovereignty discussions, pointing to Andorra's heavy reliance on imports for essentials like energy, fuel, medicines and food. The pact, he argued, strengthens decision-making in economy, trade, legal security and social protection.

The meeting also addressed healthcare challenges, with Alain Mateu outlining progress on the national pact for system quality, efficiency and sustainability. He highlighted efforts to upgrade digital tools like shared clinical records and a health app, while acknowledging saturation and delays as ongoing issues requiring strategic political responses focused on prevention and primary care.