Andorra and Catalonia Sign 4-Year Pact Boosting Mobility and Airport Links

Andorra's Head of Government, Xavier Espot, and Catalan President Salvador Illa signed a new four-year cooperation framework, the Pla de Treball 2026-2030, during a meeting in Barcelona on Friday. The agreement expands collaboration across infrastructure, health, environment, transborder challenges, interior affairs, public security, language, culture, and social issues, while introducing a regular meeting schedule and stronger technical teams to ensure project continuity.

Both leaders praised the success of existing working groups, which have delivered tangible benefits for residents through initiatives like renewed emergency medical transport agreements and shared healthcare facilities. Mobility emerged as a key focus, with commitments to enhance Andorra-La Seu d'Urgell Airport through extended operating hours and potential status as an international control point. Progress was also reported on feasibility studies for a tram line linking La Seu d'Urgell and Andorra. Other priorities include establishing an European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation for the Andorra-Pyrenees region and advancing the Organyà special economic zone.

The pact builds on regular institutional contacts, including prior meetings in Barcelona in December 2024 and Andorra in 2025. Espot invited Illa to Andorra's second Cross-Border Cooperation Days in October, which will feature a transborder business forum to boost the Pyrenean economy. Attendees included Catalan officials Jaume Duch, Anna Vives, and Joan Ganyet, as well as Andorran Foreign Affairs Minister Imma Tor and ambassadors Eva Descarrega and Noelia Souque.

The discussions follow the II Parliamentary Forum earlier that week, where Spanish deputies experienced Andorra's connectivity issues firsthand. Their flight from Madrid-Barajas to La Seu d'Urgell diverted to Lleida-Alguaire due to a storm, forcing a road journey to complete the trip. General Councillors described the incident as emblematic of challenges facing residents, commuters, and tourists, including poor air-ground control coordination, queues at the Riu Runer border—where only two of four lanes operate—and bureaucratic hurdles for Andorran students under the Spain-France trilateral agreement.

Democratic Alliance councillor Berna Coma, commission president, said Spanish parliamentarians pledged to press Madrid for more border booths. Socialist councillor Laia Moliné noted deputies' support for accelerating Andorra's EU association process, citing Spain's 40 years of membership. Topics also covered rail feasibility amid terrain limits, Tramvalira priorities, transport's environmental effects, and AI applications in parliaments.

Later Friday, Espot met Spanish Government delegate Carlos Prieto to address mobility matters, such as national heliport permits, border operations, and trilateral student provisions.