Law Professor Lectures on Andorra's EU Association Agreement Ahead of Referendum

Patrick Klaousen, a law professor at the University of Rennes 1 and author of a 1989 doctoral thesis on Andorra's trade relations with the European Communities, delivered a lecture on Andorra's EU association agreement on Wednesday evening at the Escaldes-Engordany town hall auditorium. The event, titled "Andorra and the European Union: Specificities, Difficulties and Challenges," drew a full house and provided a historical review of four decades of Andorra-EU relations ahead of a planned referendum on the pact.

Klaousen traced the timeline from the 1990 customs agreement under then-Government head Josep Pintat Solans—which clarified Andorra's status vis-à-vis the European single market—to the association agreement's negotiation start in 2015. He noted delays from events like Brexit, the pandemic and the Ukraine war, culminating in closure under Spain's EU presidency in December 2023. The deal will subsume existing sectoral agreements, such as veterinary and monetary protocols, without replacing them, and enable economic diversification beyond retail trade, particularly in financial services.

The professor described Andorra's EU relationship as asymmetric, based on disparate pacts that the agreement consolidates into a single framework. It mandates gradual alignment of Andorran legislation with the EU's *acquis communautaire*. He predicted the pact would be mixed, requiring ratification by 42 national parliamentary chambers plus the European Parliament, potentially taking years due to logistics—though most provisions could apply provisionally from day one. Stalling in any legislature remains highly unlikely, he said, and absent the deal, Andorra would likely face negative consequences.

Klaousen confirmed the upcoming referendum would be consultative, not binding, and reiterated that it should not become a plebiscite on the government. He emphasised informing citizens on details for fact-based decisions amid economic challenges, advocating honest campaigns and open discussion.

Earlier that day, opposition politician Josep Pintat echoed doubts in a Ràdio Nacional interview, calling the vote "consultative, not binding" without electoral law changes. He accused the government of staging "theatre," noting its foreign affairs authority means a signed deal would internationally commit Andorra, barring later challenges. Pintat stressed the need for strong EU ties but questioned delays, including the unresolved mixed-agreement status despite 2023 negotiations ending. He claimed Andorra is already "inside the EU and the agreement," regardless of the vote.

Authorities have yet to set the referendum date.