Foreign relations of Andorra
Encyclopedia
Since the establishment of sovereignty with the ratification of the constitution
in 1993, Andorra
has moved to become an active member of the international community
. In July 1993, Andorra established its first diplomatic mission in the world to the United Nations
. In early 1995, the United States
and Andorra established formal diplomatic relations. Andorra also has expanded relations with other nations.
Andorra maintains six embassies abroad: in Austria
, Belgium
, France
, Spain
, Portugal
and the United States
(in New York
). The principality's permanent mission to the United Nations
in New York
also serves as their embassy to the United States
, Canada
, and Mexico
.
France, Spain and Portugal
have embassies in Andorra. Switzerland has a Consulate General in Andorra.
Foreign affairs are supervised by the Ministry of External Affairs
(Catalan: Ministeri d'Afers Exteriors).
(UN), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
(UNCTAD), International Criminal Court
(ICC), International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property
(ICCROM), International Telecommunications Union (ITU), International Red Cross, Universal Copyright Convention
, Council of Europe
, EUTELSAT
, World Tourism Organization
, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Customs Cooperation Council (CCC), and Interpol
. Since 1991, Andorra has had a special agreement with the European Union
.
Disputes - international:
none
. Kosovo Minister of Foreign Affairs stated that the two countries will form diplomatic relations very shortly. Previously in 2008, Andorra was hesitant to recognize Republic of Kosovo independence due to a possible precedent in the region and due to the pressure of Spain
.
established diplomatic relations with Andorra
on February 21, 1995. The two countries are on excellent terms. The U.S. Ambassador to Spain
is also accredited as Ambassador to Andorra. United States Consulate General officials based in Barcelona
are responsible for the day-to-day conduct of relations with Andorra. The then-Permanent Representative
of Andorra to the United Nations
, Carles Font-Rossell
, was accredited as Andorra’s first Ambassador to the United States as of March 14, 2008. The current Ambassador, serving since 2 November 2009, is Narcís Casal de Fonsdeviela
.
with the European Union
(EU) since 1991 though it excludes agricultural produce. Andorra also maintains its border controls by staying outside of Schengen
, though citizens holding a Schengen visa can usually enter. Andorra is the only microstate to use the euro without an official agreement, though Andorra is in talks with the EU over an agreement that would allow it to mint its own coins.
Constitution of Andorra
The Constitution of Andorra is the supreme law of the Principality of Andorra. It was adopted on 2 February 1993 and given assent by the Andorran people in a referendum on 14 March 1993...
in 1993, Andorra
Andorra
Andorra , officially the Principality of Andorra , also called the Principality of the Valleys of Andorra, , is a small landlocked country in southwestern Europe, located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains and bordered by Spain and France. It is the sixth smallest nation in Europe having an area of...
has moved to become an active member of the international community
International community
The international community is a term used in international relations to refer to all peoples, cultures and governments of the world or to a group of them. The term is used to imply the existence of common duties and obligations between them...
. In July 1993, Andorra established its first diplomatic mission in the world to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. In early 1995, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Andorra established formal diplomatic relations. Andorra also has expanded relations with other nations.
Andorra maintains six embassies abroad: in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
). The principality's permanent mission to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
also serves as their embassy to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
France, Spain and Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
have embassies in Andorra. Switzerland has a Consulate General in Andorra.
Foreign affairs are supervised by the Ministry of External Affairs
Ministry of External Affairs (Andorra)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the Andorran government ministry which oversees the foreign relations of Andorra....
(Catalan: Ministeri d'Afers Exteriors).
Memberships
Andorra is a full member of the United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
(UN), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development was established in 1964 as a permanent intergovernmental body. It is the principal organ of the United Nations General Assembly dealing with trade, investment, and development issues....
(UNCTAD), International Criminal Court
International Criminal Court
The International Criminal Court is a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression .It came into being on 1 July 2002—the date its founding treaty, the Rome Statute of the...
(ICC), International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property
International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property
The International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to the preservation of cultural heritage worldwide through training, information, research, cooperation and advocacy programmes...
(ICCROM), International Telecommunications Union (ITU), International Red Cross, Universal Copyright Convention
Universal Copyright Convention
The Universal Copyright Convention , adopted at Geneva in 1952, is one of the two principal international conventions protecting copyright; the other is the Berne Convention....
, Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
, EUTELSAT
Eutelsat
Eutelsat S.A. is a French-based satellite provider. Providing coverage over the entire European continent, as well as the Middle East, Africa, India and significant parts of Asia and the Americas, it is one of the world's three leading satellite operators in terms of revenues.Eutelsat’s satellites...
, World Tourism Organization
World Tourism Organization
The World Tourism Organization , based in Madrid, Spain, is a United Nations agency dealing with questions relating to tourism. It compiles the World Tourism rankings. The World Tourism Organization is a significant global body, concerned with the collection and collation of statistical information...
, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Customs Cooperation Council (CCC), and Interpol
Interpol
Interpol, whose full name is the International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL, is an organization facilitating international police cooperation...
. Since 1991, Andorra has had a special agreement with the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
.
Disputes - international:
none
Recognition of Kosovo
On June 8, 2011 Andorra became the 76th member state of the United Nations to recognize the independence of KosovoRepublic of Kosovo
Kosovo , officially the Republic of Kosovo is a partially recognised state and a disputed territory in the Balkans...
. Kosovo Minister of Foreign Affairs stated that the two countries will form diplomatic relations very shortly. Previously in 2008, Andorra was hesitant to recognize Republic of Kosovo independence due to a possible precedent in the region and due to the pressure of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
Relations with the United States
The United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
established diplomatic relations with Andorra
Andorra
Andorra , officially the Principality of Andorra , also called the Principality of the Valleys of Andorra, , is a small landlocked country in southwestern Europe, located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains and bordered by Spain and France. It is the sixth smallest nation in Europe having an area of...
on February 21, 1995. The two countries are on excellent terms. The U.S. Ambassador to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
is also accredited as Ambassador to Andorra. United States Consulate General officials based in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
are responsible for the day-to-day conduct of relations with Andorra. The then-Permanent Representative
Permanent Representative
A Permanent Representative is the head of a diplomatic mission to one of various international organisations. The best known of the organisations to which states send Permanent Representatives is the United Nations; of these, the most high-profile ones are those assigned to headquarters in New...
of Andorra to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, Carles Font-Rossell
Carles Font-Rossell
Carles Font-Rossell , in Canillo, Andorra was the Permanent Representative to the United Nations for Andorra and, from 14 March 2008, he was also Ambassador of Andorra to the United States...
, was accredited as Andorra’s first Ambassador to the United States as of March 14, 2008. The current Ambassador, serving since 2 November 2009, is Narcís Casal de Fonsdeviela
Narcís Casal de Fonsdeviela
Narcís Casal de Fonsdeviela is the Ambassador of Andorra to the United States, and concurrently Permanent Representative of Andorra to the United Nations. He succeeded Carles Font-Rossell.-References:...
.
Relations with the European Union
Andorra has had a customs unionCustoms union
A customs union is a type of trade bloc which is composed of a free trade area with a common external tariff. The participant countries set up common external trade policy, but in some cases they use different import quotas...
with the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
(EU) since 1991 though it excludes agricultural produce. Andorra also maintains its border controls by staying outside of Schengen
Schengen Area
The Schengen Area comprises the territories of twenty-five European countries that have implemented the Schengen Agreement signed in the town of Schengen, Luxembourg, in 1985...
, though citizens holding a Schengen visa can usually enter. Andorra is the only microstate to use the euro without an official agreement, though Andorra is in talks with the EU over an agreement that would allow it to mint its own coins.
See also
- Andorra–France relationsAndorra–France relationsFranco-Andorran relations have existed since 1278, when Andorra was granted sovereignty through paréage by the Count of Foix in southern France. The President of France, currently Nicolas Sarkozy, is considered a prince in Andorra. They both have a same head of state.-Trade:Over a quarter of...
- Diplomatic missions of Andorra
- List of diplomatic missions in Andorra