Andorra

Principality of Andorra
*Principat d'Andorra*
Principality of Andorra Principat d'Andorra;
Flag	Coat of arms
	Motto: "Virtus Unita Fortior" (Latin); "Strength United is Stronger"
	Anthem: El Gran Carlemany, Mon Pare (Catalan); The Great Charlemagne, my Father;
	Location of Andorra (circled in inset) on the European continent (white) — [Legend]
Capital; (and largest city)	Andorra la Vella; 42°30′N 1°31′E / 42.5°N 1.517°E
Official languages	Catalan;
Demonym	Andorran
Government	Parliamentary democracy and Co-principality
Independence
Area
Population
GDP (PPP)	2005 estimate
Currency	Euro (€)1 (EUR)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
Drives on the	right
Internet TLD	.ad2
Calling code	376
1	Before 1999, the French franc and Spanish peseta. Small amounts of Andorran diners (divided into 100 centim) were minted after 1982.
2	Also .cat, shared with Catalan-speaking territories.

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For other uses, see Andorra (disambiguation).

Andorra /ænˈdɔərə/ (help·info), officially the Principality of Andorra (Catalan: Principat d'Andorra), also called the Principality of the Valleys of Andorra,^[1] is a small landlocked country in western Europe, located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains and bordered by Spain and France. It is currently a prosperous country mainly because of tourism and its status as a tax haven. The people of Andorra are currently listed as having the second highest human life expectancy in the world, right after Macau, at an average of 83 years at birth (2008 est).^[2] Andorra is the sixth smallest nation in Europe. Its name is thought to be derived from an ancient Basque tribe, the Andosinos, who are believed to have inhabited that region of the Pyrenees thousands of years ago.

[edit] History

Main article: History of Andorra

Tradition holds that Charles the Great (Charlemagne) granted a charter to the Andorran people in return for fighting against the Moors. Overlordship of the territory was of the local count of Urgell and eventually to the bishop of the diocese of Urgell. In 988 Borrell II count of Urgell gave the Andorran valleys to the Diocese of Urgell when the count expanded to the south.^[3] Since then the Bishop of Urgell, locally known as the bishop of the la Seu d'Urgell, has owned Andorra.^[4]

Andorra did not have any type of protection and the Bishop of Urgell, who knew that the Count of Urgell wanted to reclaim the Andorran valleys,^[4] decided to ask for help and protection from the Lord of Caboet. In 1095, the Lord of Caboet and the Bishop of la Seu d'Urgell signed under oath the recognition of their sovereignty over Andorra. Arnalda, daughter of Arnau of Caboet, married the Viscount of Castellbò and both became Viscounts of Castellbò and Cerdanya. Years later their daughter, Ermessenda,^[5] married Roger Bernat II of the French Count of Foix. They became Roger Bernat II and Ermessenda I Counts of Foix, Viscounts of Castellbò and Cerdanya and also sovereigns of Andorra (shared with the Bishop of Urgell).

In the eleventh century a dispute arose between the bishop of la Seu d'Urgell and Count of Foix. The conflict was resolved in 1278 by the signing of the first paréage, with the mediation of Aragon, which provided that Andorra's sovereignty be shared between the count of Foix^[4] (whose title would ultimately transfer to the French head of state) and the bishop of Urgell, in Catalonia. This gave the small principality its territory and political form.

Over the years the title passed to the kings of Navarre, and after Henry of Navarre became King Henry IV of France he issued an edict (1607) that established the head of the French state and the Bishop of Urgell as co-princes of Andorra.

In the period 1812–13, the First French Empire annexed Catalonia and divided it in four départements. Andorra was also annexed and made part of the district of Puigcerdà (département of Sègre).

Andorra declared war on Imperial Germany during World War I but did not actually take part in the fighting. It remained in an official state of belligerency until 1957 as it was not included in the Versailles Peace Treaty.

In 1933 France occupied Andorra as a result of social unrest before elections. On July 12, 1934, an adventurer named Boris Skossyreff issued a proclamation in Urgell, declaring himself Boris I, sovereign prince of Andorra, simultaneously declaring war on the bishop of Urgell. He was arrested by Spanish authorities on July 20 and ultimately expelled from Spain. From 1936 to 1940, a French detachment was garrisoned in Andorra to prevent influences of the Spanish Civil War and Franco's Spain. Francoist troops reached the Andorran border in the later stages of the war. During World War II, Andorra remained neutral and was an important smuggling route between Vichy France and Spain.

Given its relative isolation, Andorra has existed outside the mainstream of European history, with few ties to countries other than France and Spain. In recent times, however, its thriving tourist industry along with developments in transportation and communications have removed the country from its isolation. Its political system was thoroughly modernized in 1993, the year in which it became a member of the United Nations and the Council of Europe.

Andorran coat of arms at Andorran Parliament

[edit] Politics

Main article: Politics of Andorra

Andorra is a parliamentary co-principality with the President of France and the Bishop of Urgell (Catalonia), Spain, as co-princes, in a duumvirate. The politics of Andorra take place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democracy, whereby the Prime Minister of Andorra is the head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system.

The current Prime Minister is Albert Pintat Santolària of the Andorran Liberal Party (PLA). Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament.

The Parliament of Andorra is known as the General Council. The General Council consists of between 28 and 42 Councilors, as the members of the legislative branch are called. The Councilors serve for four-year terms and elections are held within the thirtieth and fortieth days following the dissolution of the previous Council. The Councilors can be elected on two equal constituencies. Half are elected in equal number from each of the seven administrative parishes and the other half of the Councilors are elected from a single national constituency. Fifteen days following the election, the Councilors convene in their inaugural session. During this session, the Syndic General, who is the head of the General Council, and the Subsyndic General, his assistant, are elected. Eight days later, the Council convenes once more. During this session the Head of Government, the Prime Minister of Andorra, is chosen from among the Councilors.

Candidates for nomination can be proposed by a minimum of one-fifth of the Councilors. The Council then elects the candidate with the absolute majority of votes to be Head of Government. The Syndic General then notifies the Coprinces who in turn appoint the elected candidate as the Prime Minister of Andorra. The General Council also is responsible for proposing and passing laws. Bills may be presented to the Council as Private Members' Bills by three of the Local Parish Councils jointly or one tenth of the citizens of Andorra.

The Council also approves the annual budget of the principality. The government must submit the proposed budget for parliamentary approval at least two months before the current budget expires. If the budget is not approved by the first day of the next year, the previous budget is extended until a new one is approved. Once any bill is approved, the Syndic General is responsible for presenting it to the Coprinces so that they may sign and enact it.

If the Head of Government is not satisfied with the Council, he may request that the Coprinces dissolve the Council and order new elections. In turn, the Councilors have the power to remove the Head of Government from office. After a motion of censure is approved by at least one-fifth of the Councilors, the Council will vote and if it receives the absolute majority of votes, the Prime Minister is removed.

The Judiciary is composed of the Magistrates Court, the Criminal Law Court, the High Court of Andorra, and the Constitutional Court. The High Court of Justice is composed of five judges: one appointed by the Head of Government, one each by the Coprinces, one by the Syndic General, and one by the Judges and Magistrates. It is presided over by the member appointed by the Syndic General and the judges hold office for six-year terms. The Magistrates and Judges are appointed by the High Court and so is the President of the Criminal Law Court. The High Court also appoints members of the Office of the Attorney General. The Constitutional Court is responsible for interpreting the Constitution and reviewing all appeals of unconstitutionality against laws and treaties. The Court is composed of four judges, one appointed by each of the Coprinces and two by the General Council. They serve eight-year terms. The Court is presided over by one of the Judges on a two year rotation so that each judge at one point will be the leader of the Court.

Responsibility for defending Andorra rests with Spain and France. Andorra currently has no military force.

Map of Andorra with its seven parishes labeled (enlarge map)

[edit] Parishes

Main article: Parishes of Andorra

Andorra consists of seven parishes:

[edit] Geography

Main article: Geography of Andorra

Topographic map of Andorra

Scenery of the Andorran mountains

Escaldes-Engordany with Caldea spa (center)

Due to its location in the eastern Pyrenees mountain range, Andorra consists predominantly of rugged mountains of an average height of 1,996 metres (6,549 ft) with the highest being the Coma Pedrosa at 2,946 metres (9,665 ft). These are dissected by three narrow valleys in a Y shape that combine into one as the main stream, the Valira river, leaves the country for Spain (at Andorra's lowest point of 870 m/2,854 ft). Andorra's surface area is 468 square kilometres (181 sq mi).

Andorra's climate is similar to that of its neighbours' temperate climates, but its higher altitude means there is, on average, more snow in winter and it is slightly cooler in summer.

Phytogeographically, Andorra belongs to the Atlantic European province of the Circumboreal Region within the Boreal Kingdom. According to the WWF, the territory of Andorra belongs to the ecoregion of Pyrenees conifer and mixed forests.

[edit] Economy

Main article: Economy of Andorra

Casa de la Vall, Andorran Parliament

Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's tiny, well-to-do economy, accounts for roughly 80% of GDP. An estimated 9 million tourists visit annually, attracted by Andorra's duty-free status and by its summer and winter resorts. Andorra's comparative advantage has recently eroded as the economies of adjoining France and Spain have been opened up, providing broader availability of goods and lower tariffs.

The banking sector, with its tax haven status, also contributes substantially to the economy. Agricultural production is limited—only 2% of the land is arable—and most food has to be imported. Some tobacco is grown locally. The principal livestock activity is domestic sheep raising. Manufacturing output consists mainly of cigarettes, cigars, and furniture. Andorra's natural resources include hydroelectric power, mineral water, timber, iron ore, and lead.^[6]

Andorra is not a member of the European Union, but enjoys a special relationship with it, such as being treated as an EU member for trade in manufactured goods (no tariffs) and as a non-EU member for agricultural products. Andorra lacks a currency of its own and uses that of its two surrounding nations. Prior to 2002 these were the French franc and the Spanish peseta, which have since been both replaced by the EU's single currency, the euro. Andorra is negotiating to issue its own euro coins.

[edit] Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Andorra

Andorrans are a minority in their own country; Spaniards, Portuguese, French, Britons, and Italians make up 67.7% of Andorra's population. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Andorra has the world's second longest life expectancy: 83.5 years.

[edit] Languages

Main article: Languages of Andorra

The national language is Catalan, a Romance language. Most Andorrans also speak Spanish, French or both. Andorra is one of only four European countries (together with France, Monaco, and Turkey) that have never signed the Council of Europe Framework Convention on National Minorities.^[7]

[edit] Religion

The population of Andorra is predominantly Roman Catholic.^[8] Their patron saint is Our Lady of Meritxell.

[edit] Culture

Andorran flag on balcony, Ordino

Main article: Culture of Andorra

The official and historic language is Catalan. Because of immigration, historical links, and close geographic proximity, other languages such as French, Portuguese and Spanish are also commonly spoken.

Andorra is home to folk dances like the contrapàs and marratxa, which survive in Sant Julià de Lòria especially. Andorran folk music has similarities to the music of its neighbors, but is especially Catalan in character, especially in the presence of dances such as the sardana. Other Andorran folk dances include contrapàs in Andorra la Vella and Saint Anne's dance in Escaldes-Engordany. Andorra's national holiday is Our Lady of Meritxell Day, September 8.^[6]