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Country : Andorra Official name: Principat d'Andorra (Principality of Andorra) Head of State: Co-Princes: Bishop of Seu d'Urgel Joan Enric Vives Sicília (from 12 May 2003) and President Jacques Chirac of France Head of government: Cap de Govern Albert Pintat Santolària (elected 27 May 2005) Ruling party: Partit Liberal Andorra (PLA) (Liberal Party of Andorra) (elected 4 Mar 2001; re-elected 24 Apr 2005) Area: 468 square km Population: 73,100 (2004) Capital: Andorra la Vella Official language: Catalan Currency: Euro (€) = 100 cents Exchange rate: €0.77 per US$ (Nov 2004) GDP per capita: US$19,000 (2003) GDP real growth: 3.80% (2003) Labour force: 33,000 (2003) Inflation: 4.30% (2003) Balance of trade: -US$1.02 billion (2003)

Historical profile

One of the world's smallest countries, Andorra is also one of the oldest nations in Europe, established by Charlemagne in 803 as a buffer state against Spanish Muslims.

803 Charlemagne captured the area from Spanish Muslims and his son, Louis the Pious, presented the area's inhabitants with a charter of liberties.

843 The Valls d'Andorra (Valleys of Andorra) were granted to Sunifred, Count of Urgell.

1278 Co-principality established between France (originally represented by a nominee of the king, then the emperor and latterly the president himself) and Spain (in the person of the Bishop of Seu d'Urgel).

1419 A parliament, the Consell de la Terra (Council of the Land), was established to represent the Andorran people.

1866 The Consell General de las Valls (Council of the Valleys) replaced the Council of the Land, during the year of the New Reform, which introduced democratisation to Andorra.

1933--34 The Council of the Valleys was temporarily dissolved by the courts. Elections were held and all men over 25 years were granted the right to vote.

1981 Constitutional reforms are enacted to move power away from the feudal co-princes and towards the parliament.

1983 Introduction of income tax following storm damage and general recession.

1985 Universal suffrage was introduced.

1991 Andorra joined a customs union with the EU.

1993 Andorra introduced a new constitution, establishing the country as a sovereign parliamentary democracy, and a new 28-member parliament, the Consell General (General Council). The first elections were held; they were won by Agrupament Nacional Democratic (AND) (National Democratic Grouping).

1994 A coalition government was formed, led by Unió Liberal (UL), Marc Forné Molné of the Partit Liberal Andorra's (PLA) (Liberal Party of Andorra) was elected head of government by the General Council.

2001 The PLA was elected.

2002 The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) blacklisted Andorra as a tax haven with 'prejudicial' tax practices. The principality refused to agree to lift the secrecy surrounding the banking sector, which is a source of international condemnation.

2003 Endesa of Spain will supply 50 per cent of Andorra's electricity requirements until 2008. On 12 May, Joan Enric Vives Sicília succeeded Joan Martí Alanís as Bishop of Seu d'Urgel and ex officio co-prince of Andorra.

2004 An agreement, on a Savings Tax Directive concerning tax withholding and savings, between the EU and Andorra was reached in June.

2005 The ruling PLA was re-elected on 24 April. Albert Pintat Santolària was elected head of government on 27 May by 15 votes against 12 for Jaume Bartumeu Cassany.

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