Escaldes-Engordany council has sharply increased fines for illegal motor vehicle access to the protected

Escaldes-Engordany council has approved revised rules on motor vehicle access to the Madriu Valley, raising fines from €100-€300 to between €1,000 and €3,000, particularly for repeat offenders using motorcycles or electric bicycles.

The changes, coordinated with the four parishes sharing the protected area—Andorra la Vella, Sant Julià de Lòria, Encamp, and Escaldes-Engordany—aim to prevent such entries more effectively. Councilor for Environment and Madriu Valley Magda Mata said the measure addresses challenges in enforcing penalties against foreign visitors. "We notified three people from outside, but we can't chase them," she noted during Thursday's session.

Mata pointed to promotional efforts, including a Spanish website offering valley trips that factored in the previous low fines. Recent enforcement involved 12 cases: six Andorran residents in the payment process and six foreigners who could not be traced.

The council approved the update by majority, with minority councilor David Pérez abstaining. He called the hike "almost a 600% increase" and "savage," arguing that documented incidents do not justify it. Pérez urged stronger action on other issues, like illegal camping and littering, which he said occur more often.

Cònsol Major Rosa Gili prioritised access controls above all. "Regulating access was the key issue," she said, downplaying variations in other rules across parishes, such as differing camping allowances. "Those are minor matters." Gili rejected calls for uniform regulations or a broader oversight body, stressing Escaldes-Engordany's responsibility for its territory. She said no disputes exist over overall Madriu management, despite some differences, including from Sant Julià de Lòria on shared zones.