Andorra – EU. Relations, diplomacy, association agreement

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Andorra – EU (European Union)

The official name of Andorra is the . It is not a member of the European Union.

Nowadays Andorra has a status of being a legally, democratically and socially independent country. On 14th May 1933 the referendum over the first Constitution was held. That Constitution was approved by the majority of the citizens. According to this document a parliamentary principality was considered to be the basis of the state political regime. The form of government is a Parliamentary Principality.

Historically, the as well as the Head of the State possess general and inseparable powers and can represent the Principality at the highest level. As stated in different versions of “Pariatge”, the decree of the co-Princes of the State is personal and inseparable and belongs to the bishop of La Seu D’Urgell (Spain) and to the President of France. According to the same decree, the bishop of Urgell and the President of France guarantee the stability of Andorra’s political system. The Co-Princes are also in a position to solve controversial issues of the Principality and participate in the process of taking decisions by the governmental and constitutional powers.

According to the new Constitution of 1993, that was adopted as a result of the work of a three-party commission (the representatives of joint rulers, General Council (Parliament) and Executive Council (Government), the joint rulers keep on governing the state affairs, but the Head of the Government keeps executive power. These two joint rulers keep equal authorities that, nevertheless, do not include the veto right in response to the governmental decisions. Both are represented in Andorra by the delegates, though since 1993 France and Spain have got their own embassies in Andorra. Look here for political system of Andorra

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Being not a member of the EU, Andorra is the only country of Europe which uses EURO as its official currency without formal agreement with EU. Andorra never had its own currency. Previously before the introduction of new currency Andorra used French franc and Spanish peseta.

In 2013 as a result of negotiations with European Union Andorra received the right to mint its own coins. First amount of coins was produced in early 2014. In 2015, the second emission of Andorran currency took place. The nominal value of the first issue (coins of 2014) – 2.479.482 Euros. The major characteristics of the coins are the following. 2 euro coin: makeup—copper and nickel, weight –8.5g, diameter –25.75mm, date of mintage—2014, emission volume—500 000 items.  Look for details here

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Andorra has ambassadors accredited in Spain, France, Portugal, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Germany, Slovenia, United States, Canada, Mexico, Switzerland, the Holy See, the United Nations, the EU (European Union), the Council of Europe, UNESCO, the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, the IEB, the Latin Union and the Secretaria General Iberoamericana.

Andorra has diplomatic representation in: Madrid (Spain, Secretaria Iberoamericana), Paris (France, UNESCO, Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, IEB and Latin Union), New York (United States, Canada, Mexico and United Nations), Brussels (EU – European Union, Benelux, Slovenia and Germany), Strasbourg (Council of Europe), Geneva (United Nations), Vienna (OSCE, United Nations and Austria), Portugal.

Traditionally, the Principality participates into the work of international and regional organizations— UNO, OSCE, European Council, UNESCO, Interpol, WHO, etc. In 2010 Andorra invested over 460 000 euro into the specialized funds and institutions of UNO as well as into the implementation of its programs. The participation into peacemaking and humanitarian operations is limited by the contributions into UNO fund, in 2010 the sum was about 644 000 euro. The new Government plans to proceed the tendency in the same volume.

One of the major external political priorities is the development of integration alliances with EU aimed at the associated membership on the basis of Collaboration agreement from 2004. Andorra has been a member of OSCE since 1996. OSCE is viewed as a universal platform for assuring the security at European Atlantic area, the country stands for giving OSCE the air of international legal personality and for optimizing its work, especially what field missions are concerned.

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Look here for the interview with Andorran FM Gilbert Saboya about the association agreement with the EU

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Visa and embassies. Look for details here

Governmental and public organizations of Andorra. Look here for details

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