Broad Parliamentary Backing for Foreign Vehicle Vignette in Andorra Tourism Law

Broad parliamentary support for foreign vehicle vignette, pending government studies The General Council maintains broad support for a vignette fee on foreign vehicles in the new tourism law, contingent on viability studies. Major parties expressed approval in recent debates, with some attaching conditions.

The Social Democratic Party (PS) and Andorra Endavant provided unconditional support. PS leader Pere Baró cited his party's 2022 initiative to charge vehicles not staying overnight and tourist buses. Andorra Endavant's Carine Montaner noted it as a 2023 election commitment, stressing exemptions for residents and cross-border workers.

Majority parties Demòcrates and Citizens Compromised (DA) backed the proposal in principle, linking it to assessments scheduled for next year. Demòcrates economy commission president Meritxell López urged analysis of effects on cross-border workers, recently registered vehicles without rematriculation, fee levels, stay-based proportionality, and commercial impacts. She pointed out day-trippers' role in retail despite lower spending than overnight visitors, cautioning against tourism or business damage. Víctor Pintos reinforced balancing gains against potential drawbacks.

Concòrdia reserves amendment on Andorra Turisme contract transparency Debate on public access to Andorra Turisme contracts remains unresolved ahead of the 30 April tourism law vote. Concòrdia leader Cerni Escalé criticised confidentiality for contracts over €20,000 at the public entity, demanding openness on government spending. "Andorra Turisme is a public company and the information must be public on how much the government is spending," he said, adding that all such high-value contracts are confidential—an unacceptable situation where "they are hiding how much the government is spending." Facing majority resistance, Escalé confirmed a floor amendment for plenary debate.

PS's Pere Baró called transparency a democratic pillar: "Without transparency there is no full democracy," stressing accountability for public funds to citizens. His group has not decided on actions, with discussions set for next week and no amendment planned initially.

PS advances amendments on AREB and AFA transparency despite majority block Majority parties Demòcrates and DA rejected PS proposals to exempt General Council members from secrecy rules on Andorran Resolution and Banking Recovery Agency (AREB) and Andorran Financial Authority (AFA) documents during commission debates on banking recovery and investment firm law amendments. Concòrdia and Andorra Endavant supported the changes, but the majority prevailed.

The amendments aimed to clarify that secrecy "does not apply to general councillors in exercising parliamentary duties," against the backdrop of the Court of Accounts' ongoing requests to audit intervened BPA accounts, denied by AREB. PS councillor Pere Baró argued they uphold Article 50 of the Constitution for oversight, warning that limits exclude key areas from scrutiny and undermine transparency.

Baró has tabled two formal amendment reservations—one for AREB under the banking recovery law and another for AFA under the National Institute of Finance law—emphasising access as vital for democratic control and separation of powers. The measures, rejected in commission, head to the 30 April plenary, where majority opposition appears unchanged.

General Council regulation reforms advance toward approval A working group on General Council rules concluded its final in-person meeting, agreeing on changes like renaming inquiry commissions as investigation commissions and aligning penal code updates for penalties on non-appearance, false testimony, or document withholding. Councillors have until early May for review, with mid-May registration before approval ahead of the government's 29-30 June policy debate.