Spain's Armengol Visits Andorra, Backs EU Deal and Restarts Parliamentary Ties After 18 Years

Francina Armengol, president of Spain's Congress of Deputies, visited Andorra on Monday for the second Parliamentary Forum with the Consell General, reaffirming Spain's support for the principality's EU association agreement and marking the end of an 18-year gap in formal parliamentary ties.

Armengol, accompanied by eight deputies, arrived in Andorra la Vella after staying overnight in the principality. Their flight from Madrid to Andorra-la Seu d'Urgell airport was diverted to Lleida-Alguaire due to a storm, highlighting connectivity challenges for mountain regions. The group received a welcome from Spain's ambassador to Andorra, Carles Pérez-Desoy, before being greeted by Síndic General Carles Ensenyat, Subsíndica Sandra Codina, and Consell General group leaders at Plaça del Poble.

During the forum's opening at Casa de la Vall, Armengol described Andorra's EU rapprochement as a project of "great strategic importance" for Spain. She noted that Madrid has supported the process since negotiations began, offering technical knowledge and best practices gained from 40 years in the bloc, including regulatory adaptation, internal market operations, sectoral policies, and administrative management. Armengol stressed Spain's "absolute respect" for Andorran decisions and the mutual benefits of the future accord, calling Andorra and Spain "neighbouring, friendly, and natural allied countries."

Ensenyat welcomed the delegation and described the prior lack of formal contacts—last held in 2008—as an "anomaly" now corrected by a new permanent interparliamentary commission. He emphasised its role in fostering stable dialogue on shared challenges. While the EU accord was not raised in his bilateral meeting with Armengol, it featured in working sessions, alongside topics like the Organyà special economic zone, Alt Urgell links, Seu d'Urgell airport upgrades, rail or tram connections, cross-border mobility, border queues, student work placements, geopolitics, sustainability, and artificial intelligence in parliaments.

Discussions also covered environmental impacts of transport, management of Andorra-la Seu flights, and border issues affecting Spanish citizens. Consellers generals noted Spanish deputies' receptiveness, with commitments to raise concerns at the government level. Armengol met separately with Head of Government Xavier Espot, while deputies exchanged views with their Andorran counterparts and visited María Moliner institute.

The forum builds on contacts resumed with a Madrid visit months ago and follows Espot's recent informal exchange with Armengol. It aligns with Andorra's efforts to bolster ties ahead of Espot's planned Friday trip to Barcelona for talks with Catalan President Salvador Illa on infrastructure, health, environment, and mobility, plus a meeting with Spain's Government Delegate Carlos Prieto.