Editing Andorra (section)

==Foreign relations, defence and security==
{{Main|Foreign relations of Andorra}}

[[File:Bruxelles rue de la Montagne 10.jpg|thumb|The embassy of Andorra in [[Brussels]]]]
Andorra does not have its own armed forces,<ref name="cia"/> although there is a small ceremonial army. Responsibility for defending the nation rests primarily with France and Spain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boe.es/buscar/doc.php?id=BOE-A-1993-16868 |title=Documento BOE-A-1993-16868 |publisher=BOE.es |date=30 June 1993 |pages=19876–19877 |access-date=26 August 2012}}</ref> However, in case of emergencies or natural disasters, the [[Sometent]] (an alarm) is called and all able-bodied men between 21 and 60 of Andorran nationality must serve.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://turisme.andorralavella.ad/?q=en/node/281 |title=El Sometent &#124; Tourism |publisher=Turisme.andorralavella.ad |date=17 May 2011 |access-date=26 August 2012}}</ref><ref name="recarrega.net">{{cite web|url=http://recarrega.net/arxius/Decret%20veguers%20Sometent,%20del%2023%20d%27octubre%20de%201984.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://recarrega.net/arxius/Decret%20veguers%20Sometent,%20del%2023%20d%27octubre%20de%201984.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=Decret veguers Sometent, del 23 d'octubre de 1984 |access-date=26 August 2012}}</ref> This is why all Andorrans, and especially the head of each house (usually the eldest able-bodied man of a house) should, by law, keep a rifle, even though the law also states that the police will offer a firearm in case of need.<ref name="recarrega.net"/> Andorra is a full member of the United Nations (UN), the [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe]] (OSCE), and has a special agreement with the European Union (EU). After the constitution was ratified, Andorra would later establish diplomatic relations with their major allies aside from neighbours France and Spain such as the United Kingdom in 1994 and the United States in 1995. It also has observer status at the [[World Trade Organization|World Trade Organisation]] (WTO).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/FE_Search/FE_S_S009-DP.aspx?language=E&CatalogueIdList=23616,10196&CurrentCatalogueIdIndex=1&FullTextHash=&HasEnglishRecord=True&HasFrenchRecord=True&HasSpanishRecord=True |title=Accession of the Principality of Andorra |website=WTO |date=15 September 1999 }}</ref> On 16 October 2020, Andorra became the 190th member of the [[International Monetary Fund]] (IMF), during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2020/10/16/pr20315-andorra-principality-of-andorra-becomes-imfs-190th-member |title=Principality of Andorra becomes IMF's 190th Member |website=IMF |date=16 October 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/imf-worldbank-andorra-idUSL1N2H722E |title=Andorra becomes IMF's 190th member as coronavirus pandemic hits tourist entries |website=Reuters |date=16 October 2020 }}</ref>

===Military===
Andorra has a small army, which has historically been raised or reconstituted at various dates, but has never in modern times amounted to a standing army. The basic principle of Andorran defence is that all able-bodied men are available to fight if called upon by the summoning of the [[Sometent]] (a civil defence organisation of Andorra, made up of the heads of households). The Sometent was used sparingly against French "Lutheran" raids during the late 16th century. Being a [[landlocked country]], Andorra has no navy.

Before [[World War I]], Andorra maintained an armed [[militia]] force of about 600 part-time militiamen under the supervision of a Captain (Capità or Cap de Sometent) and a Lieutenant (Desener or Lloctinent del Capità). This body was not liable for service outside the principality and was commanded by two officials (veguers) appointed by France and the Bishop of Urgell.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.policia.ad/historia.html|title=Cos de Policia – Història i identitat|website=Policia.ad|access-date=26 March 2019}}</ref>

In the modern era, the army has consisted of a very small body of volunteers willing to undertake [[Honor guard|ceremonial duties]]. Uniforms and weaponry were handed down from generation to generation within families and communities.<ref name="elperiodic.ad">{{cite web|url=https://www.elperiodic.ad/noticia/49867/el-sometent-es-lliura-de-registrar-larma|title=El Sometent es lliura de registrar l'arma|website=El Periòdic d'Andorra|date=23 February 2016 |access-date=26 March 2019}}</ref>

The army's role in internal security was largely taken over by the formation of the [[Police Corps of Andorra]] in 1931. Brief civil disorder associated with the elections of 1933 led to assistance being sought from the French [[National Gendarmerie]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ad.vlex.com/vid/policia-285260|title=De la policia|website=vLex|access-date=26 March 2019}}</ref> with a detachment resident in Andorra for two months under the command of René-Jules Baulard.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} The Andorran Police was reformed in the following year, with eleven soldiers appointed to supervisory roles.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1157484 |title=Andorra's 'ARMY' – Eleven Permanent Troops! |work=The Times |publisher=The Courier-Mail |via=Trove |date=5 January 1934 |access-date=26 August 2012}}</ref> The force consisted of six [[corporal]]s, one for each parish (although there are currently seven parishes, there were only six until 1978), plus four junior staff officers to co-ordinate action, and a commander with the rank of major. It was the responsibility of the six corporals, each in his own parish, to be able to raise a fighting force from among the able-bodied men of the parish.

The only permanent section of the present-day Sometent is a twelve-man ceremonial unit. However, all able-bodied men are technically [[Conscription|available for military service]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.diariandorra.ad/noticies/dmg/recordes_quan/2018/10/21/els_anhels_andorra_136998_1196.html|title=Els anhels d'Andorra|first1=Elisenda |last1=Pallarés |first2=Andorra la|last2=Vella|date=21 October 2018|website=Diari d'Andorra|access-date=26 March 2019}}</ref> with a requirement for each family to have access to a firearm. An [[Shot (pellet)|area weapon]], such as a shotgun per household, is unregulated; however, [[Bullet|ranged weapons]], such as pistols and rifles, require a licence.<ref name="elperiodic.ad"/> The army has not fought for more than 700 years, and its main responsibility is to present the [[flag of Andorra]] at official ceremonial functions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aire.ad/documents/10200707_BOP14073Reglament_atm.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.aire.ad/documents/10200707_BOP14073Reglament_atm.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=Bop14073 |access-date=26 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.andorramania.com/histoire_gb.htm |title=History of the Principality of Andorra |publisher=Andorramania.com |date=11 December 1997 |access-date=26 August 2012}}</ref> According to [[Marc Forné Molné]], Andorra's military budget is strictly from voluntary donations, and the availability of full-time volunteers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/webcast/ga/58/statements/andoeng030925.htm |title=Andorra |publisher=Un.org |date=25 September 2003 |access-date=26 August 2012}}</ref>

The only more recent general emergency call to the Sometent was given during the floods of 1982 in the Catalan Pyrenees (when 12 Andorran citizens perished),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.elperiodic.ad/opinio/article/27735/82-aiguats|title=La Tribuna – 82 aiguats|website=El Periòdic d'Andorra|date=23 November 2012|access-date=26 March 2019|archive-date=6 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506122101/https://www.elperiodic.ad/opinio/article/27735/82-aiguats|url-status=dead}}</ref> to help the population and establish a public order along with the local police units.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.elperiodic.ad/noticia/27039/la-nit-mes-llarga-en-molts-anys|title=La nit més llarga en molts anys|website=El Periòdic d'Andorra|date=29 October 2012 |access-date=26 March 2019}}</ref>

=== Andorra in the Council of Europe ===

Andorra is one of the 46 member states of the Council of Europe, having joined on 10 November 1994. Through [[Andorra and Council of Europe membership|its membership in the Council of Europe]], Andorra is or has been involved in the following areas:

* Prevention of torture: Inspections by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture in detention facilities such as juvenile centres, immigration detention sites, police stations, and psychiatric hospitals.
* Fight against racism: Monitoring and advice provided by the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance.
* Protection of social rights: Oversight by the European Committee of Social Rights under the European Social Charter, which guarantees social and economic human rights.
* Protection of minorities: Although the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities sets up a monitoring system, Andorra has not signed this convention.
* Anti-corruption: Evaluations by the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) to improve national capacities against corruption.
* Countering money laundering and terrorism financing: Reviews by the MONEYVAL Committee and monitoring by COP198.
* Democracy through law: Advisory support from the Venice Commission, which assists in aligning constitutional frameworks with European democratic standards.
* Combating human trafficking: Monitoring by the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) through regular evaluation reports.
* Enhancing the justice system: Assessments by the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) and the Consultative Council of European Prosecutors (CCPE) to improve judicial efficiency.
* Cultural contributions: In 1994, Andorra donated "Incles Valley, Andorra" (oil on canvas by Francesc Galobardes) as part of the council's art collection, symbolising its commitment to human rights and cultural heritage.

Andorra's representation in the Council includes:
* Committee of Ministers: Represented by Imma Tor Faus (Minister for Foreign Affairs) and Andreu Jordi (Ambassador and Permanent Representative).
* Parliamentary Assembly: A delegation of 2 representatives and 2 substitutes.
* Congress of Local and Regional Authorities: A delegation of 2 representatives and 2 substitutes.
* European Court of Human Rights: Represented by Judge Pere Pastor Vilanova, with 14 applications allocated to a decision body in 2024.
* Commissioner for Human Rights: Conducts visits to monitor the human rights situation and engage in dialogue with national authorities and civil society.
* Council of Europe Treaties: Andorra has ratified and signed several treaties that reinforce its commitment to the council's principles.

For 2025, the Council of Europe's budget is €655.7 million, with Andorra contributing €368,842.<ref>{{cite web |title=Andorra // 46 States, one Europe |url=https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/andorra |website=[[Council of Europe]] |access-date=22 February 2025}}</ref>

===Police Corps===
[[File:Skoda Policia - Andorra (2022).jpg|thumb|[[Police Corps of Andorra|National Police]] patrolling the central area of the capital city]]
{{Main|Police Corps of Andorra}}
Andorra maintains a small but modern and well-equipped internal police force, with around 240 police officers supported by civilian assistants. The principal services supplied by the corps are uniformed community policing, criminal detection, border control, and traffic policing. There are also small specialist units including police dogs, mountain rescue, and a bomb disposal team.<ref>{{cite web|author=Carles Iglesias Carril |url=http://www.policia.ad/ |title=Andorran Police Service website |publisher=Policia.ad |access-date=26 August 2012}}</ref>

====GIPA====
The {{lang|ca|Grup d'Intervenció Policia d'Andorra}}' (GIPA) is a small [[Police tactical unit|special forces squad]] trained in [[counter-terrorism]], and [[Hostage negotiator|hostage recovery]] tasks. Although it is the [[Paramilitary|closest in style to an active military force]], it is part of the [[Police Corps of Andorra|Police Corps]], and not the army. As terrorist and hostage situations are a rare threat to the country, the GIPA is commonly assigned to prisoner escort duties, and at other times to routine policing.<ref>{{cite web |first=Carles Iglesias |last=Carril |url=http://www.policia.ad/estructura.html |title=Cos de Policia – Estructura organitzativa |language=ca |publisher=Policia.ad |access-date=14 May 2015}}</ref>

===Fire brigade===
The Andorran Fire Brigade, with headquarters at [[Santa Coloma d'Andorra|Santa Coloma]], operates from four modern fire stations, and has a staff of around 120 firefighters. The service is equipped with 16 heavy appliances (fire tenders, turntable ladders, and specialist four-wheel drive vehicles), four light support vehicles (cars and vans) and four ambulances.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bombers.ad/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=80&Itemid=64 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722172143/http://www.bombers.ad/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=80&Itemid=64 |archive-date=22 July 2012 |title=Vehicle details with extensive photo gallery here |publisher=Bombers.ad |access-date=26 August 2012 }}</ref>

Historically, the families of the six ancient parishes of Andorra maintained local arrangements to assist each other in fighting fires. The first fire pump purchased by the government was acquired in 1943. Serious fires which lasted for two days in December 1959 led to calls for a permanent fire service, and the Andorran Fire Brigade was formed on 21 April 1961.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bombers.ad/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=83&Itemid=44 |title=Fire Brigade history here (in Catalan) |publisher=Bombers.ad |access-date=26 August 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120801135702/http://www.bombers.ad/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=83&Itemid=44 |archive-date=1 August 2012}}</ref>

The fire service maintains full-time cover with five fire crews on duty at any time: two at the brigade's headquarters in Santa Coloma, and one crew at each of the other three fire stations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bombers.ad |title=Andorran Fire Service site |publisher=Bombers.ad |date=17 August 2012 |access-date=26 August 2012}}</ref>