Andorra’s Trade Union Uncomfortable with Non-Binding EU Association Agreement Referendum

The Unió Sindical d’Andorra (USdA) has expressed its dissatisfaction with the consultative and non-binding nature of the referendum on Andorra’s association agreement with the European Union. The trade union believes that a decision of such importance should have clear legal consequences and fears that the outcome of the vote could ultimately be ignored.

The controversy follows the Government’s approval of the Regulation on the Consultative Referendum in the Principality of Andorra, which establishes that the referendum on the EU association agreement will be consultative rather than legally binding.

The nature of the referendum contrasts with a commitment included in the electoral programme of Demòcrates per Andorra (DA), the political party leading the Government. The programme stated that the referendum on the association agreement with the European Union would be binding.

Unió Sindical considers leaving the State Pact

The decision has caused significant concern within the Unió Sindical d’Andorra, which joined the so-called State Pact on relations with the European Union several months ago. The initiative was promoted by the Government in an attempt to broaden political and social support for the association agreement.

The pact brought together different economic and social stakeholders, including the trade union. However, the approval of the referendum regulations has created a new point of tension between the Government and one of the organisations that had joined the agreement.

The USdA argues that removing the binding nature of the referendum weakens the importance of citizens’ decision on an agreement that could have major economic, legal and political consequences for Andorra.

The union also fears that the outcome of the referendum could ultimately not be implemented by the Government because there would be no direct legal obligation to comply with the result of the vote.

Gabriel Ubach launches strong criticism of the Government

The general secretary of the Unió Sindical d’Andorra, Gabriel Ubach, has publicly expressed his dissatisfaction with the Government’s decision. 

In statements to La Veu Lliure, Ubach described the current administration as “the worst Government in history” and argued that the association agreement represents the project of Demòcrates per Andorra being presented “in the name of the Andorran people”.

Ubach has also questioned why the authorities ultimately opted for a purely consultative referendum when the commitment had previously been for the result to be binding.

For the trade union, the issue is not merely political but also concerns legal certainty and respect for the popular will. The possibility that a majority of citizens could vote in one direction while the result would not legally oblige the Government to act accordingly is causing concern within the organisation.

Leaving the State Pact is now on the table

Against this backdrop, the Unió Sindical d’Andorra is considering leaving the State Pact on the European Union. The organisation has not yet made a final decision, but it acknowledges that withdrawing from the agreement is now a real possibility.

The union must now decide how to respond to the new situation. The approval of the referendum regulations has therefore become another source of tension surrounding the Andorra–European Union association agreement, following months of political and social debate over the conditions and potential consequences of the future treaty.