Andorra
The
Principality of Andorra (
Catalan:
Principat d'Andorra,
French:
Principauté d'Andorre,
Spanish:
Principado de Andorra) is a small,
landlocked principality in south-western
Europe, located in the eastern
Pyrenees mountains and bordered by
France and
Spain. Once isolated, it is currently a prosperous country mainly because of
tourism and its status as a
tax haven. It has the highest life expectancy in the world, at 83.51 years. Andorra is not to be confused with the
Comune di Andora. Andorra has no military force of its own; its defense is the responsibility of Spain and France.
The name "Andorra" probably originates from a
Navarrese word
andurrial, which translates as
shrub-covered land.
Tradition holds that
Charlemagne granted a charter to the Andorran people in return for their fighting the
Moors. Overlordship of the territory passed to the local
count of Urgell and eventually to the
bishop of the
diocese of Urgell. In the 11th century a dispute arose between the bishop and his northern French neighbour over Andorra.
In 1278, the conflict was resolved by the signing of a
parage, which provided that Andorra's sovereignty be shared between the French
count of Foix (whose title would ultimately transfer to the French head of state) and the bishop of
La Seu d'Urgell, in
Catalonia,
Spain. This gave the small
principality its territory and political form.
Over the years the title passed to the kings of
Navarre. 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 1812â€"13, the French Empire annexed Spanish Catalonia and divided it in four departments. Andorra was also annexed and made part of the district of PuigcerdĂ (dĂ©partement of Sègre).
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 Urgel, declaring himself Boris I, sovereign prince of Andorra, simultaneously declaring war on the bishop of Urgel. 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 and its political system was thoroughly modernised in 1993, the year in which it finally became a member of the United Nations.
Politics of Andorra takes place in a framework of a
parliamentary representative democratic country, whereby the
Prime Minister of Andorra is the
head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system.
Executive power is exercised by the government.
Legislative power is vested in both the
government and parliament. The
Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.
A secessionist movement exists, based at
Pas de la Casa. This has only limited support.
Andorra consists of seven communities, known as
parròquies (singular
parròquia Engl.: parish)
*
Andorra la Vella*
Canillo*
Encamp*
Escaldes-Engordany*
La Massana*
Ordino*
Sant Julià de LòriaBefitting its location in the eastern
Pyrenees mountain range, Andorra consists predominantly of rugged mountains of an average height of 1,996 m with the highest being the
Coma Pedrosa at 2,946 m. 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).
Andorra's
climate is similar to its neighbours'
temperate climate, but its higher altitude means there is on average more snow in winter and it is slightly cooler in summer.
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. The principal livestock activity is
domestic sheep raising.
Manufacturing output consists mainly of cigarettes, cigars, and furniture.
Andorra is not a full 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 1999 these were the
French franc and the Spanish
peseta, which have since been replaced by a single currency, the
euro. Unlike other small European states that use the euro, Andorra does not yet mint its own
euro coins; in October 2004, negotiations between Andorra and the
EU began on an agreement which would allow Andorra to mint its own coins. Andorra's
natural resources include
hydropower,
mineral water,
timber,
iron ore, and
lead.
Andorrans constitute a minority in their own country; only 33% of inhabitants hold Andorran nationality. The largest group of foreign nationals is that of
Spaniards (43%), with
Portuguese (11%) and
French (7%) nationals the other main groups. The remaining 6% belong to several other nationalities.
The only official language is
Catalan, the language of the nearby Spanish
autonomous region of
Catalonia, with which Andorra shares many cultural traits, though
Spanish,
Portuguese and
French are also commonly spoken. The predominant religion is
Catholicism.
Andorra's long
history has provided it with a rich
mythology and an abundance of
folk tales, with roots originating as far as
Andalusia in the south and the
Netherlands in the north.
*
Communications in Andorra*
Civil unions in Andorra*
Foreign relations of Andorra*
Postal services in Andorra*
Tourism in Andorra*
Transportation in Andorra*
List of sovereign states*
Scouting in Andorra*
Front Envaliran de Libération*
Andorra's location on a 3D globe (Java)*
Andorra.ad - Main portal
*
Andorra-Intern - Andorra Inside Information
*
Andorra Online - Information on various Andorran topics
*
Andorra Mania - Information on various Andorran topics
*
History of Andorra: Primary Documents*
Govern d'Andorra - Official governmental site (in Catalan)
*
Library of Congress Portals on the World - Andorra*
HiT Andorra - Andorra's health care system and general historical and government background information
fiu-vro:Andorra
