French Assembly Slams Zero Funding for Andorra Border Deal

France's Foreign Affairs Commission in the National Assembly has raised concerns over the lack of funding allocated to implement a bilateral agreement with Andorra on demarcating and signalling their shared border.

The issue emerged during a review of a report on the application of laws authorising the ratification of international treaties. Michel Guiniot, a National Rally deputy who previously sponsored the border agreement legislation, expressed surprise that the Interior Ministry has committed no budget since 2024 to carry out its provisions. He criticised the failure to deploy the deal effectively, questioning the value of parliamentary approval if essential resources are not provided afterwards.

Ministry information shows no investments since 2024 in the planned measures to ensure proper signalling, review, and maintenance of the France-Andorra border line. Guiniot highlighted this as an example of international commitments stalling due to administrative shortcomings.

Commission president Bruno Fuchs acknowledged the need for clarification, while noting no incidents or conflicts have arisen from the undefined border to date. He suggested formally questioning the French government on the reasons for the funding gap and the timeline for on-the-ground work.

The discussion formed part of a broader parliamentary reflection on tracking France's international obligations. Report authors called for stronger oversight mechanisms to prevent ratified treaties from languishing without practical effect. The commission is considering field evaluation missions to assess implementation of select bilateral agreements, potentially including the one with Andorra, to ensure parliamentary decisions lead to timely, concrete actions.