Andorra extends FPNSM pact to finalise ONCE agreement

The Government announced a six‑month extension of the existing accord with the Fundació Privada Nostra Senyora Meritxell (FPNSM) until June to allow remaining technical and administrative matters to be closed, even as Social Affairs Minister Trini Marín said the pact with Spain’s ONCE could still be finalised “in January or February.”

Marín confirmed the technical model for the ONCE collaboration is complete and that the commission in charge of the project is already operational. The Government has held technical exchanges with ONCE, including a recent visit to the organisation’s facilities in Catalonia, to adapt the model to Andorran law. “Only the economic part and the installation of the sales kiosks remain to be finalised,” she said.

Negotiations on the financial terms are under way with the finance ministry, led by Ramon Lladós. Once those terms are settled, the definitive agreement will need to set out deployment of points of sale, operating conditions and how to reconcile aspects of Andorran regulation with ONCE’s legal framework.

ONCE has already contacted parish authorities about kiosk locations. The current plan foresees two initial sales points in Andorra la Vella and Escaldes‑Engordany, though Marín and parish contacts say more locations could be added later depending on demand.

If the accord is finalised, ONCE products would be sold legally in Andorra and residents would be able to access the organisation’s social programmes. The Government says it hopes administrative work will allow the definitive agreement to be signed at the start of next year, while the FPNSM extension gives officials until June to resolve any remaining items.