On Monday, 19 October, the European Commission signed an association agreement in Brussels with Andorra and San Marino. The Commission’s representation in Romania: a frame for deeper economic and institutional integration and access to the internal market under common rules. This is not EU accession, and it is not in force yet.

The agreement, the Commission writes, gives citizens, firms and public authorities more legal predictability, eases trade and investment, and takes account of the two countries’ size. There is also cooperation on research, education, social policy, the environment, consumer protection and culture. Financial services will come in gradually, after an assessment of supervision. We have not written that Andorran or Sammarinese banks are already inside the single market.

The same day the EU also signed updates to the monetary agreements of 2011 (Andorra) and 2012 (San Marino), so they do not overlap with the new text. The euro is already their official currency. An update, not a first introduction of the euro.

What comes next, still according to the Commission: the Council will seek the European Parliament’s consent, then conclusion. Provisional application, once the two countries’ ratifications allow it. Talks began in 2015 with Andorra, Monaco and San Marino; Monaco stopped in September 2023; the text with the two was closed in December 2023. The Council authorised signature in July 2026. Signature, not ratification.

EFE: Maroš Šefčovič (trade) and Valdis Dombrovskis (economy) signed for the EU, Xavier Espot for Andorra, Luca Beccari for San Marino. Šefčovič: access comparable to that of Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein in the European Economic Area. Comparable, not EEA accession. Espot: a binding referendum in Andorra; the date, taking account of the Parliament’s calendar and the spring 2027 elections. Brussels, the commissioner said, will respect the result.

San Marino RTV: the ceremony at the Berlaymont, after eleven years of talks. The signature, the station writes, does not coincide with entry into force. Two microstates, not 27 new members.

Image: Casa de la Vall, Andorra la Vella, 30 December 2013, Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons. The historic parliament, not the Berlaymont room.

Sources consulted: San Marino-Unione Europea, firmato a Bruxelles lo storico Accordo di Associazione — San Marino RTV; Andorra and San Marino sign an association agreement to move closer to the EU — European Commission Representation in Romania.