New Language Policy Regulation in Andorra: Strengthening the Mandatory Use of Catalan in Public Administration and the Judiciary

New Language Policy Regulation in Andorra: Strengthening the Mandatory Use of Catalan in Public Administration and the Judiciary

Author: Martí Periago

On 12 March, the Government of Andorra approved the new Regulation on the use of the official and native language in the General Administration and the Judiciary, implementing Law 6/2024 on the native and official language.

The Regulation aims to strengthen the institutional use of Catalan as the language of work, communication and interaction with citizens, consolidating its role as a fundamental pillar of Andorra’s institutional identity.

Scope of Application

The Regulation significantly broadens the range of individuals subject to language obligations.

Among those affected are:

• General Administration staff.

• Judiciary personnel.

• Employees hired by public entities and public companies.

• Tourist guides, instructors, monitors and public-facing personnel.

• Athletes, coaches and representatives of publicly funded organisations.

• Individuals officially representing Andorra domestically or abroad.

The objective is to ensure the presence of Catalan in all areas where the Principality is represented or where public activities take place.

Mandatory Written Use of Catalan

All administrative documentation addressed within Andorra must be drafted in Catalan, whether in paper or electronic format.

In addition:

• Administrative contracts and agreements must be written in Catalan.

• Technical reports commissioned from third parties must be delivered in Catalan.

• Legislative texts prepared externally must be drafted directly in Catalan.

• Public procurement procedures require documentation in Catalan, subject to limited exceptions for documents issued by foreign authorities.

Within the judiciary, Catalan becomes the mandatory language for legal documentation, without prejudice to the parties’ rights of defence.

Oral Use in Public Administration

Catalan is established as the default language for all verbal interactions between public authorities and citizens.

Only in exceptional circumstances may another language be used when a person declares they do not understand Catalan and the public employee is able to communicate in another language.

Catalan is also mandatory for internal workplace communication among public employees.

Signage and Institutional Identity

The Regulation requires all administrative signage, both internal and external, to be displayed exclusively in Catalan.

Limited exceptions apply mainly to:

• Tourist-oriented services.

• Certain road signs.

• Multilingual information intended for international visitors.

Signage on public buildings, official vehicles, uniforms and public infrastructure must remain entirely in Catalan.

Websites and Digital Tools

All institutional websites must be fully available in Catalan, which must also be the default browsing language.

Furthermore:

• Public authorities must prioritise software versions available in Catalan.

• Software developed for public entities must include Catalan interfaces and document-generation functionality.

• These requirements must be incorporated into public procurement specifications.

Social Media, Advertising and Official Publications

Institutional social media accounts managed by public authorities must communicate primarily in Catalan.

Official advertising disseminated within Andorra must also be published in Catalan, although additional languages may be used when addressing international or tourist audiences.

Likewise, official publications must generally be produced entirely in Catalan, except for materials specifically intended for foreign audiences.

Cultural, Educational and Sporting Activities

The Regulation extends the mandatory use of Catalan to numerous publicly funded or subsidised activities.

These include:

• Guided visits to public museums and monuments.

• Subsidised school and extracurricular activities.

• Sporting and leisure events supported by public funds.

• Educational support programmes.

Tour guides, monitors, ski instructors and other professionals involved in such activities must use Catalan when carrying out their duties.

Language Requirements for Public Employees

Public recruitment procedures must specify the Catalan proficiency level required for each position.

In addition, training organised or funded by public authorities must be delivered in Catalan, including all educational materials and documentation.

International Representation and Publicly Funded Organisations

Individuals officially representing Andorra, as well as members of publicly funded organisations, must use Catalan when addressing Andorran media outlets.

This linguistic commitment may be expressly included in contracts, grants and public funding agreements.

Monitoring and Sanctions

Failure to comply with the linguistic obligations established by the Regulation may result in sanctions under Law 6/2024.

Both individuals and legal entities may be subject to disciplinary or administrative proceedings.

The Regulation also provides for monitoring mechanisms and periodic assessments to measure compliance and language normalisation objectives.

Conclusion

The new Regulation is a key component of Andorra’s language policy framework.

Its purpose is to ensure the effective use of Catalan throughout public administration, the judiciary, public services and publicly funded activities, reinforcing its role as the principal language of institutional communication in the Principality.