Vila Demands the Government More Investment on La Rabassa Ski Slopes

www.elperiodic.ad DIMARTS, 10 DE JULIOL DEL 2018 el Periòdic d’Andorra 15

CONEIXEMENT SOBRE

d'Andorra L’ÚS DE LES TECNOLOGIES elelENGLISHTema PeriòdicPeriòdic del EDITION dia NewsT H U 2xx 4 ASKS «REFLECTION» TO THE NEW EXECUTIVE AND «MORE EFFORTS» Vila demands the Government more investment on la Rabassa ski slopes The mayor considers being necessary to Wants more snow cannons and open and allocate between one and three million euros closed spaces to work the physical aspect

EL PERIÒDIC EL PERIÒDIC SANT JULIÀ DE LÒRIA @PeriodicAND he mayor of Sant Julià de Lòria, Josep Miquel Vila, has demanded more invest- T ment efforts from the Gov- ernment to improve the cross-country ski slopes of la Rabassa, since Josep Miquel Vila in his opinion the modality has an MAYOR OF SANT JULIÀ DE LÒRIA «important future» in the Princi- pality and it is necessary that the sports people who are dedicated to this sport can train in the best conditions to be able to achieve more important milestones. Vila emphasized, precisely, the good results of Irineu Esteve and the tenth position achieved on Tuesday by Caro- la Vila at the Junior World Cup. «We «The next Government have good skiers in the country and we have good cross-country skiing. that enters will This deserves reflection on the part of all», he announced at the begin- have to reflect in ning of the press conference after order to achieve, all the meeting of mayors. Vila made it clear, however, that the issue was together, a necessary not part of the agenda of the meet- improvement» ing. The Lauredian politician revealed that the comú began to think Although the proposal goes about an improvement project as a through the investment being made result of the good results achieved by the Government, he admitted by Irineu Esteve. «We have been that talks have not been held with making approaches», he said, al- the Executive. «We have not talked though he clarified that there is no about it because the result is very re- concrete proposal beyond talks with cent, but I’m sure they will approve the Federation and Ski Andorra who it and will surely be a contributor also share the need to improve the Skiers at the cross-country ski slopes in la Rabassa to what’s good for the country», he facilities. said. However, Vila made it clear that Josep Miquel Vila insisted on those who would have to supply the According to what has been studied that would be carried out, but he did and indoors. Vila did not want to highlighting the qualities of Irineu important part of the monetary con- so far, the investment would be be- recognize that work would be done talk about performance centre «be- Esteve and Carola Vila, especially tribution to carry out this project tween one and three million euros. with regard to the routes and also cause it’s a big word, it sounds like relevant, he said, for their age. «They should be the Government. «The with the installation of more snow a very big investment and maybe we have a very broad future», he said, re- comú does not have much money ACTIONS «We are talking about cannons that would allow opening will not get there». But instead, «we iterating that «we will have to make and neither Camprabassa», he point- whether /we can fix the ski slopes and slopes although there is little snow- would like closed and open spaces to more efforts to help them so they ed out. That is why he made it clear look for the way to be able to train fall. «We should look for the maxi- physically improve at 2,000 metres can keep these positions and see if that «the next Government that en- better so that athletes can improve mum points to make them more sol- of altitude». According to the head there are options to improve them». ters will have to reflect to achieve, their results and take the name of id and consolidated», he said. of the local administration, this sup- The goal is «that if one day the race all together, an improvement that the country to high positions and In the same way, they would also plement would give athletes «more goes well and they reach the podi- may be needed to open a door to po- far away», he explained. Even so, he like to count «with a space to prac- continuity and it seems that their re- um, the name of Andorra will be sition us on a podium in the future». did not explain in detail the actions tice some exercises», both outside sults could be improved». known far away». H 16 www.elperiodic.ad THURSDAY, 24 JANUARY 2019 el Periòdic News

HOUSING CONCERNS

and then agree on the most appropriate measures. Although in the course Increase in rental prices before of the meeting the Statistics Depart- ment explained how the studies carried out on the price of rents and the number of empty floors are under legislative change is approved way, Espot announced that the data will not be made public until the con-

MARICEL BLANCH clusions are available «to avoid con- Ombudsman has troversies like the one that took place after the last committee».Without received several giving numbers, the ombudsman in- inquiries in this regard dicated that «the difference between the average rental prices that are being paid and that of the lease offers EL PERIÒDIC XAVIER ESPOT that can be found today». The minis- ANDORRA LA VELLA MINISTER OF SOCIAL AFFAIRS ter explained that they do not work @PeriodicAND with «a fixed deadline because it de- mbudsman, Marc Vila, «If there are people pends a lot on the data provided to warned that he has begun affected, they can us, particularly from the comús.» to receive inquiries from get help from public Even so, he once again insisted on the O people who have received institutions and can need for collaboration of all admin- letters or texts of intentions for rises istrations and organizations such as in the rental price following the an- go to justice» AGIA. In fact, Galobardas stated that nouncement by the Government that «we continue working in our study the contracts ending 2019 or which MARC VILA and it is possible that in a few months are already renewed, must be extend- we will have it in an advanced phase». OMBUDSMAN ed one year and may only be increased based on the CPI. «At the moment, we «The difference between OTHER EXPERIENCES Precisely in the have received a couple and next week average rental prices meeting, several heads/ of the Insti- we could receive two or three more, tute of Regional and Metropolitan but it is important for the owners to being paid and lease Studies of Barcelona participated, know that once the new regulations offers have been clearly who explained the reality of housing come into force, these notices will not put on the table» in the Catalan capital and its metro- be valid nor can they be effective since politan area, as well as the measures the contracts will be extended auto- that are being applied to try to alle- matically « reflected Villa after partic- viate or solve the problem. «For ex- Aerial view of the homes of the capital and Escaldes-Engordany. ipating in the third meeting of the Na- ample, they talked about creating a 33 tional Commission of Housing. reference price index or promoting However, the increases, have not tice is spreading and it is clear that that “one cannot terminate a contract rents» while assuring that they are public housing for protected or social been the only reaction of the owners the new measure on the renovation that quickly and, if there are people af- against it, but denied that they have use» said Espot, stating that «some of to the measures of the Government of rents will be applied, the owners fected, they can get help from public been involved in the collaboration of these measures deserve to be studied and the ACU has detected the case of will have more time for action and institutions and can go to justice to these increases. more carefully». Regarding the ref- a woman whom they want to termi- more people will be affected by this claim a deferral before the deadline». erence price, the minister indicated nate the contract and has received a situation» said the president of the From the real estate sector, the pres- STUDIES Despite being aware of the that its «feasible» but refused to «im- letter that notify her that she has to ACU, Lluís Ferreira, warning in a state- ident of the AGIA, Jordi Galobardas, problems/ surrounding the housing pose a minimum or maximum lim- leave the apartment when the agreement. The Minister of Social Affairs acknowledged that they are «aware issue, they all agreed that reliable and it because it can help discourage the ment expires. «We fear that this prac- and Justice, Xavier Espot, pointed out that there have been abuses in certain detailed data must first be available growth of residential rental offer». H

MARICEL BLANCH LONG QUEUES ON THE ROAD DUE TO WEATHER Traffic jams throughout the country due to big snowfall EL PERIÒDIC more than 30 km / h and not take the regions and also the Pre-Pyrenees, ANDORRA LA VELLA vehicle if it can be avoided. reaching villages such as Solsona and The snowfall that took place yester- There was up to 20 centimeters of Berga. In fact, it has even arrived punc- day caused large problems in the snow in Andorra la Vella, Escaldes-En- tually in cities such as Manresa and Cars in traffic due to the snowfall. roads. Civil protection informs that gordany and Sant Julià de Lòria. From Vic.In la Seu, the City Council has ac- 33 as of 12:00 the orange alert was acti- 1,500 meters above sea level, the fore- tivated all the means and cleaning vated due to the snow and the wind. cast is 40 cm, while over 2,200 m its 80 of the municipal brigades, this year fact that in less than two hours they en police cars were making vehicle Mobility informed that there was a cm. Snowfall will be expected to con- they are reinforced with 8 new man- have already accumulated 10 centi- inspections, fining drivers who were red phase in the CG5 / CG4 roads from tinue the rest of the week. ual snow removal machines for the metres. not well equipped. According to Mo- Erts and Cortinada to the CG3 from pavements. bility, one of the factors of the traffic Escaldes. In Encamp and La Massana SNOW ACROSS THE PYRENEES La Seu However, from the town hall they MORE SNOW TODAY For today, a signif- jams is the drastic reduction in speed the traffic jams are intense, with long d’Urgell and the whole region/ of Alt once again remember the citizen’s icant drop in temperatures/ is expect- of cars due to the state of the roads.In queues due to the state of the roads. Pirineu received the first intense duty to clean the sidewalk section of ed, as well as a reduction in snowfall order to not disturb the workers who From mobility they inform the man- snowfall this year. Last Sunday it was each house or block of flats. In a state- and gusts of wind, which can also clear the snow from pavements and datory use of special snow equipment snowing very weakly, this time the ment, the government highlighted lead to traffic jams, especially if visi- roads, from the comúns it is request- and it is recommended to move travel storm has covered all the Pyrenean the intense snowfall, as shown by the bility is reduced. Yesterday, up to elev- ed that vehicles be correctly parked. H www.elperiodic.ad THURSDAY, 24 JANUARY 2019 el Periòdicel Periòdic d’Andorra News 1717

SPECIAL FORCES

M. P. Firemen threaten with the Batllia to guarantee early retirement

They want to be able to pre-retire. «There has been no specific derogation, therefore, we believe leave work at 55 years that the right is in force», Adran said. with 60% of the salary The two firemen indicated that «unofficially» had consulted the Ex- ecutive and that they had been told EL PERIÒDIC that they cannot be pre-retire be- ANDORRA LA VELLA cause the new law of firefighters, ap- @PeriodicAND proved two years ago, refers to the he two unions of the fire- retirement law and this right is no fighters (ABA and A118) con- longer expected. «But we did not sider that agents have the know how to find it». Torra and Adrán at the time of presenting the appeal at the Government Procedures services. right to pre-retire at age 55 In fact, the Minister of Justice and T 33 with 60% of salary, despite the leg- Interior, Xavier Espot, admitted hav- islative changes that have occurred ing the meeting, but he did not want appeal and we will wait for the an- in relation to the retirement of civil to speak either in one direction or in swer. From here we will take the path servants. That is why this week, after the other and referred to the answer of the Batllia or whatever is appropri- Espot defends the legality of the special filing an appeal at the Government that can be given by the legal servic- ate», he emphasized. relationship personnel despite the complaint to clarify the issue, they threatened es of the Executive. However, Torra to bring the matter to the Batllia if was clear. «We want to be told if we EXCEPTION The president of the ABA the answer they received is not the have this right or we do not have it recalled that/ with the new law of The Minister of Social Affairs, Jus- «everyone has the right to challenge desired one. and when we get an answer, we will firemen there are about twenty peo- 33tice and Interior, Xavier Espot, de- what he deems appropriate». How- Joan Torra and Miquel Àngel act», he explained, pointing out that ple who can receive voluntary re- fended «the legality» of the special ever, from his point of view, he does Adrán, the visible faces of the two un- the matter could end up in court. tirement (it is limited to agents who relationship staff «and the figure of not see criminal activity. «Maybe it’s ions, were responsible for present- «The first step is the administrative have been in the staff for more than the coordinator», after being asked appealable from the administrative ing the document at the Procedures 25 years or who are five years from re- about the complaint that the Si- point of view, but I do not see the rai- services. The will is that «the gov- tirement), but says that «they do not paag presented the Prosecutor’s of- son d’être from a criminal point of ernment clarifies whether we have agree» because they only receive 50% fice to investigate suspected irreg- view», he explained. Of course, al- a right to early retirement» because of the salary. «We believe that of 60% ular practices. «We and the Minister ways leaving it clear that «it is not up they argue, «there is no specific der- M. ÀNGEL ADRÁN must be granted because it is what of Public Functions have repeated- to me to decide on it and that» who ogation of the rights we had before» A118 the law states», he complained. In ad- ly done this, we defend the legality of will end up deciding it is the prosecu- in the 2014 law that modified the dition, he warned that early retire- these special relationship staff and tor’s office or thejudge , if they decide retirement system of civil servants. «There has been no ments are necessary because the av- the figure of the coordinator. But who to admit it to proceeding». The minis- The members of the union explained specific derogation of erage age of the workers «is rising» will have to decide are the courts. ter also emphasized that in the end, that the text does explicitly refer to the rights we had in the and is already at age 45. According That’s how the rule of law works», both the Government and the union the police force and the penitentia- to Torra, «early retirement is a good he said. In the same way, he made of the administration’s staff must «re- ry staff to make it clear that, like all past, so we belive that thing for both firefighters and the it clear that «I fully respect the de- spect the judicial decisions that are other public workers, they cannot they are in force» rest of the staff». cisions that Sipaag can take» since finallytaken in this regard». H

ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT

propriate support from the EU, to cial support for all the changes that Presented in Brussels the report adopt and fully implement the long- the administration will have to face term agreement; including the clos- to adapt to the requirements of the as- est institutional cooperation with sociation agreement, as emphasized of López Aguilar on Andorra the nearest member states «also fore- in the meeting held with Juan Fern- sees» the possibility of accessing Euro- ando López Aguilar during his visit to EL PERIÒDIC riod has begun where groups with ment by indication of L’A, as the lib- pean funding in certain projects», as Andorra on 4 October. ESCALDES-ENGORDANY representation in Brussels can sub- eral party explained in a statement. explained by the liberals of the Prin- During his speech, he valued very Socialist MEP Juan Fernando López mit amendments to the text, which The information transmitted by cipality. positively the advances made by An- Aguilar presented his «draft report» will be voted on 4 February and will the Andorran party indicates that the From Liberals d’Andorra, this dorra over the last years in the stand- to the Foreign Affairs Committee of be put to a vote during the plenary modification presented by L’A aims amendment is justified because «the ardization of its financial system by the European Parliament on Monday session of the European Parliament to include in the text «the possibili- country wants to have the possibili- the European standards. The MEP al- to serve as the basis for a future recom- in Strasbourg on 11 March. ty of accessing European funding» ty of benefiting from adequate finan- so highlighted the departure of the mendation of the Eurochamber on to adapt to Community regulations. cial and economic support to modify country from the grey list of tax ha- the Association Agreement between LIBERAL AMENDMENT MEPs from the The amendment modifies a section its national legislation». In particular, vens and the continued collabora- the EU and Andorra, Monaco and San ALDE Group of the/ Foreign Affairs of the text so that «Andorra, Mona- the will of the liberal parliamentari- tion of the Andorran authorities in Marino. After this presentation, a pe- Committee presented an amend- co and San Marino [...] receive the ap- ans is that Andorra can receive finan- this regard. H 18 www.elperiodic.ad THURSDAY, 24 JANUARY 2019 el Periòdic d’Andorra

PADEL ANNULMENT 3 Camp claims that the cancellation of the World Padel Tour is «bad news» Morales states that «this greatly affects the sport» and that «I imagined this would happen when Lao died»

MARICEL BLANCH EL PERIÒDIC ESCALDES-ENGORDANY @PeriodicAND ndorra will not have the FRANCESC CAMP World Padel Tour this year. MINISTER OF TOURISM «Bad news» for the country, Asaid Minister of Tourism, «It is clear that this Francesc Camp, to EL PERIÒDIC. «It situation is bad news is clear that not having a world event for the country, to lose is always bad» he said. The cancellation is explained because, despite the a sporting event of fact that the contract signed with bu- this level» sinessman Miguel Lao, who died sud- denly last November, expected to GUSTAVO MORALES host the event one more year, fina- WORLD PADEL TOUR PLAYER lly there has been no definitive agreement between all the parties invol- «It was the dream ved. of Lao, but if you In addition, the director of the think of the possible padel section of Principadel, trai- ner and player of the World Padel consequences you Tour, Gustavo Morales, assured to never achieve anything» this newspaper that the situation «is frustrating» and that «it really affects ture where the last edition was held this sport, our players and the gene- and which served to increase the seat ral public, who was very enthusiastic capacity and bring more spectators . about it». «It’s bad that no agreement has been reached, it has been two THE VERSION OF PRINCIPADEL According very good years» he emphasized and to sources of the current/ sharehol- added that «this will affect the club ding of Principadel, «we have not- regarding the image». «Its bad news hing to do with this event». «From to not be able to host another year, Principadel Andorra SL, who mana- especially now that the club already ges the facilities, we are not present has another image, since two years in the company that manages the ago, it was halfway done», he clarifi- World Padel Tour, they are different ed and emphasized that «the only thi- companies and, therefore, the new ng that changes is my feelings for it, shares of Principadel, we have not- it was a special occasion for me, ha- hing to do with the other companies ving my family, students and friends of Miguel Lao» they emphasized and The Andorra Sports Center hosts the Vallbanc Andorra la Vella Open final of the World Padel Tour this summer. there always gives you a bonus, and added that» with respect to the club, 33 that will not happen anywhere else our priority is Principadel and its in the world». Therefore, according to Morales, ce of continuing the project» but «I do sports facilities, not this event «and « In this regard, he stated that «I was «it was no surprise, I already prepa- According to not know if it is considered a natio- if someday we plan to organize it, we afraid that this would happen when red myself for this, I hope it can come Principadel, their nal interest». will start from scratch». Miguel Lao died» because it was «his back because it brings a lot of inte- Minister Camp explained that In this regard, «we are moving dream and all lovers of padel, it was rest». «But it is clear that the problem priority is to finish the «the first year we were asked for a forward, in our own pace, but the- the dream of a man who went ahead is the conditions that have occurred, sporting facilities sponsorship, but for budget reasons re is a lot of work to do, our priority with it no matter the consequences». it is not a door that closes, since the we dismissed it because we had clo- is to invest in our country, have the «If one think about the numbers and the World Padel Tour will return», of the club sed it with other events» and com- club in place, increase the number of the possible problems, nothing gets he emphasized and added that from mented that «this year there has be- members and organize the sporting accomplished, especially with the Principadel «they have not opted for the social building, finish the ten- en no request» and that «there ha- events we deem appropiate» . On the conditions that the club has today, this option because it is a matter of nis courts and, in general, leave the ve been no demands for the future other hand, from Principadel, they but maybe in five years time it will priorities», since «it is an option that club looking good». He also recalled ». Also, Olga Gelabert, Sports Minis- emphasize and reiterate that «if the- be more of a success» he indicated re- costs a lot of money and hosting it that «if there was an interest from the ter, revealed that «we have only had re is any debt, its from Lao’s com- garding the economic problems of will not make the works finish soo- part of the Government and not only contact for the demand for the use pany» thus, «the procedures must be the club. ner». «Now, the priority is to finish from the club, there would be a chan- of the sports centre», the infrastruc- taken with his company». H

FAE CROSS COUNTRY SKIING RESULTS 3 Villa finishes in tenth position at the 5km Junior World Cup race The athlete prevails despite low temperatures and reaches a milestone

EL PERIÒDIC Her time was 13.34.1, 43.5 from the ded that «since the first hill we got ac- LAHTI winner, Swedish athlete Frida Karls- tive and went all for it, and they were Last Tuesday, Carola Vila compe- son, who finished in a time of 12.50.6. telling me I was close to overtaking so- ted in the junior World Champions- Second place was for Helene Fosses- me competitors and I managed to ke- hip of the U23’s in the 5 kilometer ra- holm’s from Norway with, 11.1, and ep up the pace until the very end, we ce, where she finished in 10th posi- third, Finita Anita Korva, in 19.8. «We had a very good race». «I wasn’t that tion. Villa achieved this result with went a little slow at the start, and in cold, taking account the low tempera- quite complicated conditions such as the first checkpoint they told me I was tures, I was able to handle it quite well low temperatures. thirteenth» she emphasized and ad- I think», said the Andorran skier. Carola Vila at the junior World Cup. H 33