Susanna Vela Proposes Amendments to Bolster Andorra's Archives and Documentary Heritage Bill

Susanna Vela, president of the Social Democrats' group in the General Council, has submitted amendments to the archives and documentary heritage bill to strengthen protections for Andorra's documentary heritage, establish a contemporary archives policy, and improve coordination within the national Archives System.

The proposals aim to give the legislation greater technical and conceptual consistency, while enhancing measures for conservation, digitization, institutional transparency, and public access to documents—both public and private—that constitute the country's shared memory. They explicitly recognize archives as vital instruments for ensuring administrative accountability and citizens' rights to information.

Key changes would expand public administrations' responsibilities in document handling, with a focus on preserving electronic records amid rising digital production. The amendments broaden the definition of public documents to include those created or held by individuals or entities carrying out public roles, and they update technical terminology related to archiving and records management.

The national Archives System would formally include archives from the judicial administration, University of Andorra, Notaries' Chamber, and parishes. Provisions would also heighten requirements for safeguarding private documents of historical significance, including support and guidance for private holders and organizations.

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