Andorra's EU Referendum Faces Delays Amid Criticism

Andorra's EU association agreement referendum faces mounting delays, with the government admitting it has missed its own timelines amid criticism from opposition figures and experts.

Jeff Danforth, head of the International Monetary Fund's mission to Andorra, warned during the presentation of the IMF's 2026 report conclusions that such processes typically overrun schedules. "It always takes longer than it seems," he said, noting that while the IMF does not evaluate the negotiations' substance, the final timeline will depend on Andorra's government and EU bodies. The report links potential disruptions to the Middle East conflict, though Danforth offered no further details.

The opposition Social Democratic parliamentary group (PS) has renewed calls for the vote before the current legislature ends, citing prior commitments. "The referendum has to happen this legislature, because that's what we said and that's how we have to close it," the group stated. PS lawmakers oppose any postponement, pointing to a budget amendment they filed to secure funding. While recognising Europe's role in setting the pace, they insist the ballot remains achievable within the mandate.

In a recent exchange on social media platform X, State Secretary for EU Affairs Landry Riba conceded that the government had not met its predicted timelines. "One thing is to make temporal forecasts for a conclusion procedure that does not depend on the government—and to miss the forecast," Riba wrote.

The admission followed criticism from lawyer and notary Carles Miñana, who posted news headlines from 2024 and 2025 highlighting government-announced deadlines. Miñana argued the delays stem from internal decisions, not external factors. "The referendum that you have repeatedly promised and will NOT fulfil does not depend at all on any decision external to Andorran institutions," he stated. He outlined the legal process—coprinces call referendums at the head of government's request with Consell General majority approval—and dismissed debates over the agreement's "mixed" status as a stalling tactic that alters nothing in the promised text.

Riba also addressed a European Parliament member's shift in stance, from viewing the deal as overly beneficial to warning of risks and global entanglements. Miñana brushed off such external views, prioritising Andorran citizens' judgment: "What interests me little is what even the entire European Parliament thinks. What interests me is what all Andorrans think."