Almanac of law. Issue 16 (2025), pages 268–274.
DOI: 10.33663/2524-017X-2025-16-268-274
Otrosh V. М.
The formation of Andorran statehood and the acquisition of international legal personality by the Principality of Andorra
Issues of international legal personality are among the most important problems of modern international law. A special place among them is the issue of the international legal personality of European micro-states, including Andorra. The relevance of the chosen research topic is caused by the absence of a comprehensive study of the international legal nature of European micro-states in the domestic (and the lack of it in foreign) science of international law.
The purpose of the article is to analyze the formation of Andorran statehood and show how the Principality of Andorra acquired international legal personality. The article shows that since 1278, Andorra has been under the dual suzerainty of ecclesiastical and secular lords: the nominal co-rulers of the principality have always been the Spanish Bishop of Urgel and the President of France (after the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of a republican form of government in the country). After the entry into force of the first democratic Andorran constitution in 1993 and bringing the country’s political system into line with it, the Principality of Andorra began to fully meet the generally recognized criteria of statehood that have developed in modern international law. With the adoption of the Andorran constitution in 1993, the international position of the principality changed, it became formally independent and able to enter into international relations with other subjects of international law - states and international intergovernmental organizations.
Based on the above, it is concluded that now the Principality of Andorra is a full member of the international community and has international rights and obligations. Its international legal status is objective and is reflected in such aspects as jus legationis (active and passive law of the embassy), jus contrahendi (conclusion of international treaties), jus societatis (participation in the work of international organizations) and jus conventus (participation in work of international conferences).
Key words: Andorra, Principality of Andorra, constitution of the Principality of Andorra 1993, political system of Andorra, co-rulers, General Council (Parliament) of Andorra, government of Andorra, judicial system of Andorra, international legal personality of Andorra.
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