The Principality of Andorra seems to support local self-government fully and the level of local democracy in the country is generally satisfactory, concluded the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe in a recommendation adopted during its 46th plenary session.
The recommendation was based on the findings of a monitoring report on the application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in Andorra, prepared by Jean-Paul Bastin (Belgium, L, EPP/CCE) and Christine Chevalley (Switzerland, L, ILDG).
The Congress acknowledged that Andorran municipalities had very broad powers and satisfactory human and financial resources, and that there was a culture of close consultation between the state and local authorities, stemming from long-standing traditions and facilitated by the country´s small dimension. The Constitution guarantees parishes autonomy, which is reflected in the composition of the Andorran Parliament (Consell General), where municipalities are directly represented.
The Congress pointed out several areas where there was room for improvement. It recommended that the country adopt legislation governing consultation and negotiation procedures between national and local authorities as well as granting specific autonomy to the capital, Andorra la Vella, to take into account its particular situation compared to the other municipalities.
The Congress also invited Andorra to sign and ratify the Additional Protocol to the European Charter of Self-Government on the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority. In this regard, the rapporteurs noted with satisfaction that this was one of Andorra’s current priorities.
Finally, the Congress encouraged Andorra to ratify two articles of the Charter, despite the fact they are already applied in practice: Article 9.2, which requires that local authorities are provided with adequate financial resources to perform their functions; and Article 9.5 on the principle of financial solidarity to prevent the unequal distribution of resources to local administrations.
On the occasion of the debate, Ladislau Baró, Minister of Institutional Relations, Education and Universities of Andorra, addressed a video message to the Congress.
Andorra ratified the European Charter of Local Self-Government on 23 March 2011.
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