Spain reaffirmed support for theassociation agreement between Andorra and the Union European and positioned it as a determining project for the future of the Principality. The Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albaresdefended during the official visit to Andorra that greater European integration must translate into more prosperity for the country and neighboring territories.
dawn described the agreement as “a project of extraordinary significance for the future of the principality”, and framed it in the historical and geographical connection ofAndorra with europe. According to the Spanish minister, it is a project based on “values”, “economic progress” and “respect for citizens”. In this regard, he made it clear that Madrid will continue to defend the process: “Spain actively supports this process because we are convinced that a Andorra more closely united and integrated to europe will also be one Andorra more prosperous.” dawn he added that this eventual prosperity would not be limited to the principalitybut would also have positive effects on Spain as a neighboring country, and thus linked the agreement to a very close economic and territorial relationship between the two states, noting that both share “joint structural challenges” derived from the geographical situation and the Pyrenean topography.
“We are convinced that a more united and integrated Andorra in Europe will also be more prosperous”
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Imma Toralso highlighted the role that Spain has had during the negotiation. “We reiterated the fundamental role ofSpain throughout the negotiation and approval of theassociation agreement“, he affirmed. Tor he particularly recalled that the political negotiation was closed in December 2023, coinciding with the final stretch of the Spanish presidency of Council of the European Union. The head of Exteriors argued that the participation ofAndorra in the European internal market it must further strengthen the economic links with the environment. As he explained, “the association agreement with the EUwith the participation ofAndorra athe European internal market, will consolidate this area of cooperation and shared prosperity”. The minister thus positioned the text as a tool that should deepen a relationship that is already particularly intense with Spain, the main economic and commercial partner of the principality Tor also thanked the Spanish support throughout the negotiation process and presented the position of Madrid as one of the main supports in the approach to European structures. Albares, on the other hand, insisted that the European fit of the principality responds to the geographical, historical and economic reality of the country, and defended that this link must allow us to face shared challenges with more guarantees.
“We reiterated the fundamental role of Spain throughout the negotiation and approval of the agreement”
During the appearance, the two ministers reiterated the will to continue coordinating the steps that still remain until the culmination of the process. Tor once again valued the accompaniment ofSpainwhile Albares reaffirmed the Spanish government’s support for the agreement and for greater integration ofAndorra in the European area.
ALBARES ASSURES THAT THE OFFICIALITY OF CATALAN IN THE EU IS “A MATTER OF TIME”
The minister explained that Spain has worked with the European partners to resolve the doubts raised at the beginning. Among the guarantees, Madrid has announced that it will assume the cost of the officialization of Catalan, Galician and Basque. according to dawnthe reluctance that still persists is “exclusively political” and linked to countries that “are doing a favor to People’s Party Spanish, who is strongly asking that the issue be stopped.
The minister Imma Tor reiterated that Andorra will support the initiative from the current status of a third state. Tor he gave as an example the translation into Catalan of the association agreement, with its annexes and protocols, which he described as a symbolic display of the presence of the language in European institutions.
The agreements signed
- LANGUAGE PROMOTION WITH THE CERVANTES INSTITUTE. Andorra and Spain signed an agreement that will allow promoting joint cultural and linguistic activities within the framework of the Instituto Cervantes. Imma Tor explained that Andorra will be able to organize events in the organization’s international network, promote exchanges of authors and encourage reading. Albares pointed out that the agreement will make it possible to promote initiatives in Catalan and Catalan culture around the world.
- TRAINING AND COLLABORATION OF DIPLOMATISTS. The two countries will strengthen the training of their diplomats with a protocol of understanding between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs and the Spanish diplomatic school. The agreement envisages deepening the professional development and continuous training of the diplomatic and consular staff of the two countries, within the reinforcement of bilateral cooperation boosted by the visit of Albares with a permanent vocation.
- DISTRIBUTION OF CONFISCATED GOODS AND ASSETS. The distribution of money, property and other assets seized in criminal proceedings will be regulated by a new bilateral agreement. The agreement sets the criteria for distributing between the two states the instruments and profits from criminal activities, gives priority to the recovery of victims and strengthens joint cooperation against transnational crime in the fight against crime.
