Andorra Negotiates Better Access to Historical Bishopric Archives

Andorra's Culture Ministry continues negotiations with the Bishopric of Urgell to improve access to historical documents on the Principality held in its La Seu d'Urgell archives, where consultations remain limited to records over 100 years old. Officials acknowledged at a press conference that discussions, underway since the start of the legislative term, are currently on hold amid a leadership change, as the new bishop and co-prince reviews pending dossiers.

Culture Minister Mònica Bonell described the talks as constructive yet complicated, urging patience to allow time for decisions. "We are in conversations and will continue to advance as swiftly as possible," she said, noting an agreement with Spain already enables digital copies of relevant materials, while progress with the Bishopric stalls. Isabel de la Parte, director of the Cultural Heritage department, called the arrangement archivistically unusual, as the documents belong to the private Bishopric entity but pertain to Andorra. "The archives are ours because they speak of us," she emphasized, adding that officials "will not stop insisting" and are pursuing digital copies to support conservation and local access. Lídia Arbués, head of the Archives and Document Management area, observed that access to private archives varies widely and is not unique to church institutions.

The ministry used the event to present its proposed archives and documentary heritage law, aiming to create a modern policy for public and private holdings. The bill updates 2003 cultural heritage regulations, covering documents through their full lifecycle and establishing a national archives system that includes government, parish, and General Council archives, with provisions to incorporate others.

Public documents are defined as those from public bodies over 30 years old or of permanent value. Private ones encompass items over 100 years old, declared cultural assets, inventoried collections, or records from significant entities over 30 years old. The government gains priority in acquiring private funds, offers maintenance support, and prohibits their dismemberment. Public record management requires professional standards, qualified staff, suitable facilities, authenticity safeguards, interoperability, and proper transfers during administrative shifts. Central administration must adopt unified systems, with oversight for any outsourced services to preserve public ownership.

De la Parte highlighted a "paradigm shift" driven by digital needs, including a common digital portal for public access and incentives like subsidies and collaborative spaces to engage private owners in preserving family and patrimonial memory. Bonell noted that many public institutions already meet the proposed standards, with the bill developed in consultation with local archivists who responded positively. Arbués stressed combining responsibilities with ministry support, such as annual grants and optional deposits in public archives for private holders facing high costs.