A delegation of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) visited Andorra from 4 to 6 October 2023 as the first step in the preparation of a monitoring report. The visit was preceded by an online meeting with the Raonador del Cuitadà (Ombudsman), held on 28 September 2023, within the framework of the institution’s equality body mandate. During the visit, the ECRI delegation gathered information on effective equality and access to rights; hate speech and hate-motivated violence; and integration and inclusion.

In Andorra la Vella, the delegation held meetings with senior representatives of the government and other competent authorities, senior representatives of the Parliament (Consell General d’Andorra) and various civil society actors. On this occasion, it also met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as with the Speaker and Vice-Speaker of the Parliament.

The delegation also travelled to Santa Coloma to visit the secondary school affiliated to the Andorran school system, located in the “parish” of Andorra la Vella, where it had talks with students, as well as management and teaching staff.

Following this visit, ECRI is expected to adopt its report on Andorra in 2024 in which it will make a new set of recommendations on measures to be taken by the authorities to prevent and combat racism and intolerance in the country. The implementation of two priority recommendations will be reviewed in two years’ time after the publication of the report as part of ECRI’s interim follow-up procedure.

In its report on Andorra published in 2017, among other recommendations, ECRI recommended that the authorities take specific measures to facilitate the inclusion of foreign residents.

It also recommended that the Andorran authorities pursue and complete their initiatives at legislative level on equality and combating racism and intolerance.

• ECRI’s report on Andorra published in 2017
• ECRI conclusions on Andorra published in 2020