Andorran Government Forms Fireworks Restriction Working Group After Citizen Petition

Andorran Government Forms Working Group on Fireworks Restrictions Following Citizen Petition

The Andorran government has established a dedicated working group to examine a citizen-led proposal for restricting fireworks use beyond specific holidays like Sant Joan. Minister and government spokesperson Guillem Casal confirmed the move during a Wednesday press conference after a Council of Ministers meeting, calling the initiative "very reasoned" and backed by much of the population.

The group includes representatives from the Interior Ministry and the Fire Corps, tasked with updating outdated pyrotechnics regulations. Casal stressed that the goal is rationalisation, not prohibition, focusing on curbing indiscriminate year-round use while preserving traditions. Key areas include limiting fireworks in outdoor public spaces, regulating open fires in natural settings to cut fire risks, and tightening indoor pyrotechnics rules following the New Year's nightclub blaze in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, which killed about 40 and injured over 100.

Casal, who received the petition directly as the minister responsible for pets, linked it to broader concerns like impacts on domestic animals and neighbourhood harmony. He noted technical and legal complexities, making pre-Sant Joan implementation challenging despite the government's aim to act soon—potentially requiring time-specific limits or prior approvals outside main eve events.

Immigration Quotas Hold Population Growth Under 2%

Immigration controls continue to temper growth, with the rate falling below 2% in the first quarter of 2026 from over 2.5% the previous year. The government approved a general quota of 800 workers, expandable by 30% if needed, minus around 65 permits already granted via a March advance. This leaves about 585 available, with 624 for residents and 176 for cross-border workers—an 11% drop from the prior October quota.

Reservations cover 150 high-skill spots in management, technical roles, healthcare, education, social care, and domestic help (groups 1 and 2), plus 150 for full-time sports professionals at clubs like FC Andorra and MoraBanc, barring other work.

A bill amending immigration law aligns Andorra with a new EU border deal, treating it like Schengen for free movement of nationals and residents, bypassing the EU Entry/Exit System. It introduces "conditional and temporary" residency for applicants meeting all criteria except pending Spanish or French security checks, limited to 28 days (extendable to 42). Negative results trigger automatic denial and departure. Casal described this as an added safety layer, with negotiations ongoing for complementary pacts with Spain and France. Affected Andorrans facing improper checks should contact the government for reversal procedures.

Additional Updates

Casal dismissed concerns over French President Emmanuel Macron's failure to use Catalan during his visit, attributing it to his background and insisting it did not impede grasp of local realities.

Head of Government Xavier Espot will join the 8th European Political Community summit in Yerevan, Armenia, on 3-4 May, under the theme "Building the Future: Unity and Stability in Europe." He will participate in a workshop on democratic resilience against hybrid threats, including foreign information interference and critical infrastructure amid new technologies, accompanied by EU Relations Secretary Landry Riba and EU ambassador Vicenç Mateu, with bilateral meetings planned.

The government has launched an architecture contest for a new administrative building on the former Casa Parramon site in La Massana, an electoral commitment, though occupying services are undecided. It also approved scholarships for Andorran nationals pursuing master's or doctoral studies in Japan starting April or September/October 2027.