Andorra's Espot Strikes Deals with Catalan Leaders on Economy, Mobility in Barcelona

Andorra's head of government, Xavier Espot, held talks yesterday in Barcelona with Catalan President Salvador Illa and Spain's Government Delegate to Catalonia, Carlos Prieto, focusing on cross-border economic initiatives, mobility enhancements, and permit simplifications.

During the meeting at the Palau de la Generalitat, Espot and Illa called the discussions "very positive" and covered bilateral issues comprehensively, particularly cross-border cooperation. They agreed to develop a joint proposal for the special economic zone in Organyà, to be presented to Madrid afterward. Espot described the planned tax regime as "balanced," lower than Spain's but competitive, while providing added value to Spain and Catalonia. He emphasized finding an "equilibrium point" among all parties' interests.

The leaders formalized a 2026-2030 cooperation framework, extending bilateral efforts by four years. It sets a regular meeting schedule, strengthens technical follow-up teams, and expands to health, infrastructure, environment, waste management, interior affairs, security, language, culture, and social services. They highlighted the success of existing working groups in delivering concrete benefits, with economic cooperation—such as the Organyà zone and Pyrenean projects—taking a larger role.

Mobility and infrastructure stood out, including extended operating hours and potential international status for Andorra-la Seu d’Urgell Airport, a feasibility study for a La Seu d’Urgell-Andorra tram, renewed emergency medical transport agreements, and easier emergency hospital access for Alt Urgell residents. They also progressed on a European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation for the Andorra-Pyrenees area. Espot invited Illa to Andorra in October for the second Cross-Border Cooperation Days, featuring a trans-Pyrenean business forum.

In his separate meeting with Prieto, Espot pushed for faster residence, work, and study permits for Andorrans in Spain, drawing on the Andorra-Spain-France trilateral agreement for EU-like treatment, especially for students. Espot said they had advanced toward a "much faster" system, though final approval is pending. Prieto committed to accelerating processes via the Directorate General for Migration. Discussions also covered helicopter flights with on-site checks at Andorra's heliport or La Seu d’Urgell to enable regular services—bypassing current Schengen controls at Reus or Girona—recent waste transfer delays, border management, the Organyà zone, and the European grouping.

These encounters build on recent institutional contacts, including Barcelona talks in December 2024 and Andorra in June 2025. Andorra's embassy in Spain is pursuing an official visit by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez before his legislature ends, alongside a meeting between Foreign Ministers Imma Tor and José Manuel Albares. Ambassador Eva Descarrega told the Andorran News Agency that preparations continue despite volatile agendas influenced by global events. She noted frequent multilateral overlaps, such as at the European Political Community and UN assemblies, Espot's early Moncloa meeting, and Sánchez's prior private trip to Andorra, but stressed no firm dates yet.