Andorra - Zentrale Behörde (Art. 2) und praktische Information

Central Authority(ies):

International Relations and Legal Cooperation Service
Ministry of Justice and Interior

Contact details:

Address: Edifici Administratiu de l’Obac
Crta. De l’Obac s/n
AD700 – Escaldes-Engordany
Principat d’Andorra
Telephone: +376 872 080
Fax:  
E-mail: cooperacio_internacional_mji@govern.ad
General website:  
Contact person:  
Languages spoken by staff: Catalan, Spanish, French, English

 

Practical Information

Blocking statutes:  

Chapter I
(Letters of Requests)

Transmission of Letters of Requests: Letters of Request are sent directly from a judicial authority in the requesting State or through its Central Authority to the Central Authority of the requested State.
Authority responsible for informing of the time and place of the execution of Letter of Request
(Art. 7):
Judicial authority competent to execute the request.
Presence of judicial personnel at the execution of the Letter of Request (Art. 8): Declaration of applicability. See Competent Authority.
Privileges and duties existing under the law of States other than the State of origin and the State of execution
(Art. 11):
No declaration of applicability.
Translation requirements
Arts 4(2) and 33):
Accepts Letters of Request written in or translated into Catalan, Spanish and French.
Costs relating to execution of the Letters of Request
(Arts 14(2)(3) and 26):
Andorra has sought reimbursement of costs under Article 26.
Time for execution: Between 2 and 6 months, approximately.
Pre-trial discovery of documents
Art. 23):
Letter of Request will not be executed (full exclusion).
Information about domestic rules on the taking of evidence:   

Witness examination under Chapter I

Should Letters of Request include specific questions to be used during witness examination or only a list of matters to be addressed? Specific questions are required.
Is it a public or private hearing? Public hearing, unless a judicial decision says otherwise.
Do the judicial authorities "blue-pencil" Letters of Requests (i.e. rephrase, restructure and / or strike out objectionable questions or offensive wording so that a Letter of Request may be executed under the laws of the requested State)? No.
Is the witness provided in advance with a copy of the questions / matters to be addressed as contained in the Letter of Request? No.
Are documents produced by the witness authenticated by the court? Yes.
Is an oath generally administered to the witness? Yes.
Can the witness be made subject to further examination and recall? Yes, but a second request is necessary.
Are there sanctions for non-appearance of witness? Yes, up to 750 euros.
Must interpreters who assist with the witness examination be court-certified? No.
How is the testimony transcribed? A civil servant of the Court transcribes the testimony.

Chapter II
(Taking of evidence by diplomatic officers, consular agents and commissioners)

Article 15 In application of the second paragraph of Article 15, diplomatic or consular agents may not carry out an investigative act without the authorisation of the central authority.
Article 16 The central authority is designated as the competent authority to authorise, where appropriate:
- Diplomatic or consular agents of a Contracting State to carry out, without compulsion, acts of investigation concerning persons who are not nationals of that State and relating to proceedings brought before a court of the State they represent;
- persons officially appointed as commissioners for the performance without compulsion of acts of investigation relating to proceedings brought before a court of a Contracting State.
See full declaration here.
Article 17  The central authority is designated as the competent authority to authorise, where appropriate:
- Diplomatic or consular agents of a Contracting State to carry out, without compulsion, acts of investigation concerning persons who are not nationals of that State and relating to proceedings brought before a court of the State they represent;
- persons officially appointed as commissioners for the performance without compulsion of acts of investigation relating to proceedings brought before a court of a Contracting State.
See full declaration here.
Article 18 No declaration of applicability.

Taking of evidence by video-links
(under either chapter)

Chapter I

Are there legal obstacles to the use of video links?  
Technology used:  
Level of interpretation required:  
Simultaneous or in sequence interpretation:  
Interpretation required in which jurisdiction?  
Who pays for the interpretation?  
How would a request for evidence be handled if witness not willing?  

Chapter II

Are there legal obstacles to the use of video links?  
Technology used:  
Level of interpretation required:  
Simultaneous or in sequence interpretation:  
Interpretation required in which jurisdiction?  
Who pays for the interpretation?  

Other Information

Bilateral or multilateral agreements  
Useful links: https://www.interior.ad/
https://www.justicia.ad/
Competent authorities (Art. 17) See Competent authority here
Additional authorities (Art. 24)  

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