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The border between Andorra and Spain is in the
The border begins in the west at the Andorra-France-Spain
The main channel of communication between the two countries is through the Valira Valley between
La guardia civil acaba con el contrabando en la frontera con Andorra
http://elmundo.es
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees are a mountain range straddling the border of France and Spain. They extend nearly from their union with the Cantabrian Mountains to Cap de Creus on the Mediterranean coast, reaching a maximum elevation of at the peak of Aneto. ...
between northern Spain
Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
and southern and western Andorra
Andorra, officially the Principality of Andorra, is a Sovereignty, sovereign landlocked country on the Iberian Peninsula, in the eastern Pyrenees in Southwestern Europe, Andorra–France border, bordered by France to the north and Spain to A ...
. It is long. It is an external border of the EU, as well as an external border of the Schengen area, as Andorra is neither part of the EU nor a party to the Schengen agreement.
Specifications
The Spanish-Andorran border runs between the south of Andorra and northern Spain (by theautonomous community
The autonomous communities () are the first-level administrative divisions of Spain, created in accordance with the Spanish Constitution of 1978, with the aim of guaranteeing limited autonomy to the nationalities and regions that make up Sp ...
of Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community of Spain, designated as a ''nationalities and regions of Spain, nationality'' by its Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 2006, Statute of Autonomy. Most of its territory (except the Val d'Aran) is situate ...
) in the Pyrenees Mountains. Because both Spain and Andorra are situated in the same watershed, travel is easier (roads are better) than travel between Andorra and France. The sole official language of Andorra is Catalan.
The border begins in the west at the Andorra-France-Spain tripoint
A triple border, tripoint, trijunction, triple point, or tri-border area is a geography, geographical point at which the boundaries of three countries or Administrative division, subnational entities meet. There are 175 international tripoints ...
(). It then follows a generally south-eastern direction, later turning northeast to the eastern Andorra-Spain-France tripoint (). The dividing line between the two countries goes through high mountain areas, often over , and passes close to the highest point of Andorra, the peak of Coma Pedrosa
Coma Pedrosa (; ) is the highest mountain in Andorra. It is popular with mountain climbers, its ascent being technically straightforward, although strenuous. From Arinsal to Camp de Refuge (650 m climb) is considered moderate meanwhile the l ...
. It also borders the Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley
The Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley () is a glacial valley in the southeast of Andorra. It covers an area of 42.47 km2, approximately 9% of the total area of Andorra, and is part of the second largest watershed basin in Andorra. The isolated ...
, the only UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an treaty, international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural ...
in Andorra.
In May 2015 the European commission adopted a cooperation program to improve the protection of the environment at the Spain-Andorra and Andorra-France borders.
The border point at Os de Civís (Spain
Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
) can only be accessed by Sant Julià de Lòria
Sant may refer to:
People
* Alfred Sant (born 1948), Maltese politician
* Andrew Sant (born 1950), English-born Australian poet
* David Sant (born 1968), Catalan director, actor and writer
* Indira Sant (1914–2000), Indian poet
* James San ...
in Andorra
Andorra, officially the Principality of Andorra, is a Sovereignty, sovereign landlocked country on the Iberian Peninsula, in the eastern Pyrenees in Southwestern Europe, Andorra–France border, bordered by France to the north and Spain to A ...
.
Border controls
The main channel of communication between the two countries is through the Valira Valley between La Seu d'Urgell
La Seu d'Urgell (; , formerly ''Urgell'') is a town located in Alt Urgell county in Alt Pirineu, Catalonia, Spain. The town is also the head of its judicial district and the seat of the Bishop of Urgell, one of the co-princes of Andorra. It is ...
and the parish
A parish is a territorial entity in many Christianity, Christian denominations, constituting a division within a diocese. A parish is under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of a priest#Christianity, priest, often termed a parish pries ...
of Sant Julià de Lòria
Sant may refer to:
People
* Alfred Sant (born 1948), Maltese politician
* Andrew Sant (born 1950), English-born Australian poet
* David Sant (born 1968), Catalan director, actor and writer
* Indira Sant (1914–2000), Indian poet
* James San ...
. The only border control at the Andorra–Spain border is located along this road. There is no rail crossing point.
In addition, helicopters are allowed to go to airports with border control in other countries, but not to anywhere else outside Andorra. Flights usually go to the airports of Barcelona
Barcelona ( ; ; ) is a city on the northeastern coast of Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second-most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within c ...
or Toulouse
Toulouse (, ; ; ) is a city in southern France, the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Haute-Garonne department and of the Occitania (administrative region), Occitania region. The city is on the banks of the Garonne, River Garonne, from ...
.
An agreement signed in 2003 between France, Spain and Andorra governs the movement and residence in Andorra of citizens of third states. It says that the three countries will coordinate their visa requirements, although in reality today Andorra follows the Schengen Agreement
The Schengen Agreement ( , ) is a treaty which led to the creation of Europe's Schengen Area, in which internal border checks have largely been abolished. It was signed on 14 June 1985, near the town of Schengen, Luxembourg, by five of the t ...
visa requirements, and that Andorra will only allow entry of those who have right of entry to Spain or France. Andorra is allowed to permit residency to any person and such persons will be treated as long-term residents of France or Spain.
Contraband
Due to the low tax on tobacco in Andorra there is significantcigarette smuggling
The illicit cigarette trade is defined as "the production, import, export, purchase, sale, or possession of tobacco goods which fail to comply with legislation" by the intergovernmental Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Illicit cigarette tra ...
between the two countries; it takes place through the border post of La Farga de Molas but also often through the mountain passes. The Guardia Civil
The Civil Guard (; ) is one of the two national law enforcement agencies of Spain. As a national gendarmerie, it is military in nature and is responsible for civil policing under the authority of both the Ministry of the Interior and the Minis ...
is responsible for surveillance at the border and arrests smugglers on the Spanish side.http://elmundo.es
See also
*Andorra–France border
The Andorra–France border extends for in southern France (Ariège (department), Ariège and Pyrenees-Orientales Departments of France, départements) and northern and north-eastern Andorra.
The border is France's third-shortest, after its b ...
*France–Spain border
The France–Spain border was formally defined in 1659. It separates the two countries from Hendaye and Irun in the west, running through the Pyrenees to Cerbère and Portbou on the Mediterranean Sea. It runs roughly along the drainage divide ...
References