Andorra Social Democrats Propose Amendments to Strengthen Archives Law

Susanna Vela, leader of the Social Democrats' parliamentary group in the General Council, has tabled amendments to the archives and documentary heritage bill, seeking to enhance safeguards for Andorra's documentary assets, establish a forward-looking archives policy, and streamline operations across the national Archives System.

The changes aim to deliver stronger technical and conceptual alignment in the law, while bolstering efforts on preservation, digitization, institutional openness, and access to public and private records that form the nation's collective memory. The proposals underline archives' role as key tools for promoting administrative accountability, public oversight, and citizens' right to public information.

Public bodies would face expanded duties in records management, particularly for electronic files amid growing digital output. The amendments widen the scope of public documents to cover those produced or managed by individuals or organizations performing public functions, alongside refined technical terms in archiving and records handling.

The national Archives System would explicitly integrate archives from the justice administration, University of Andorra, Notaries' Chamber, and parishes. Further measures would tighten protections for private holdings of historical value, with dedicated support and advice for their custodians.

Vela stressed that preserving documentary heritage is "a collective and democratic responsibility, because archives are memory, knowledge, and a guarantee of rights." She called for "a modern, coherent, and ambitious law that places Andorra at the level of international archiving standards."