Andorran Teens Approve Six Draft Laws on Housing, AI, and Elderly Care at Youth Parliament

Students aged 14 to 16 from secondary schools across Andorra's educational systems debated and approved six draft laws at the 24th plenary session of the General Council of Youth, held Wednesday morning in the parliamentary chamber.

The proposals—three on open themes and three on assigned topics—addressed housing access, artificial intelligence, elderly care, natural disaster preparedness, and digital mental health. All received approval with broad support, though vote tallies varied.

A housing initiative from Encamp's Andorran Secondary School originally sought to cap rents at 500 euros monthly, aligning with the minimum wage. After committee discussions incorporating 12 amendments—all passed by consensus—participants shifted to reference prices per square meter: no more than 10 euros for new-build homes with high energy efficiency, and 5 to under 10 euros for others, adjusted for location, condition, and features. The measure exempts three in ten luxury properties, adds rent subsidies for under-35s and vulnerable groups, and seeks to curb price rises for youth independence. Debates raised questions on defining "luxury" housing, furnished flats, and market feasibility, with alternatives like public housing construction or minimum wage increases proposed. One student noted that prices follow supply and demand, suggesting public builds as a better fix, while another argued for wage hikes to make rentals viable. It passed 22-4 with two abstentions.

Two AI measures passed. An educational one mandates workshops and at least one secondary school activity per trimester for responsible use. The other outlines excessive or unjustified AI applications, establishes usage principles, requires government training programs, and sets up a digital welfare information office in each parish. Concerns included AI-generated fake nude images.

Elderly care calls for nearby services, equal access, adequate funding, and specialized caregiver training, emphasizing personal choice in aging at home.

The disaster preparedness plan, approved 12-8 with eight abstentions, directs the government to produce a national risk map, emergency strategy, mass alert systems, drills, and a repair fund.

Digital mental health targets social media risks for youth, promoting responsible mobile use without prohibitions.

The session advanced inclusivity, with visually impaired student Kevin Morais from Santa Coloma's Andorran Secondary School delivering the final proposal in braille, aided by classmate Roger Sánchez—the first such instance.

Afterward, awards from the 17th Poster Contest went to Lena Coll of Sagrada Família school, with runners-up Martina Comella (also Sagrada Família) and Xènia Ramírez from Ordino's Andorran Secondary School.