Minister of State Pierre Dartout visited Andorra on March 2 and 3 at the invitation of HE Mr Xavier Espot Zamora, head of the government of Andorra. Mrs Isabelle Costa, Monaco’s High Commissioner for European Affairs, was part of the delegation.
The official visit was intended to strengthen the close ties between the two Principalities, which recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding of Friendship and Cooperation – on September 22, 2022, and a Bilateral Tax Convention on December 1, 2022.
The intention is to deepen bilateral cooperation, particularly in education, digitalisation, tourism, and the fight against cybercrime.
The Minister of State highlighted partnerships in development cooperation, such as those carried out since 2009 in Madagascar in the fight against malnutrition and in Mali in health. “Our co-financing allows us to support high-impact operations to improve the living conditions of the most vulnerable people,” Pierre Dartout said.
Talks also focused on the ongoing negotiations on an agreement of association with the European Union.
“We have in common this desire to preserve our specificities. We do not wish to become a Member State but an Associated State of the Union European. Like Andorra, we must recognise these differences which are the result of our history and our geography and which are our strength,” the Minister of State said.
ORIGINAL SOURCE & PHOTO: Monaco Government Press Service
HE Minister of State Pierre dartout (left), with HE Mr Xavier Espot Zamora
