Andorra to recruit police and prison officers and fund biodiversity recovery

The government has opened a public call to fill 15 newly created police posts to reinforce security at Pas de la Casa and step up efforts against tobacco smuggling. These posts add to nine candidates already selected, bringing the total intake to 24 new officers. Applications may be submitted to the Police Human Resources Group at the Obac administrative building from 27 November 2025 until 9 January 2026 at 13:00; the call’s rules and the professional exam syllabus are published at www.policia.ad.

To streamline training, the 24 recruits will follow a single, unified course due to begin in March–April 2026 and lasting about nine months, after which they will enter a one‑year probationary period. The government says the increase will allow creation of a permanent unit assigned to the Pas de la Casa and will strengthen overall policing capacity. The police corps currently numbers 268 officers.

Separately, the Council of Ministers has appointed three new prison officers who have completed selection and will start their training on 15 December 2025. These posts are newly created; the training period may last up to six months and includes firearm practice with long and short weapons, intervention and handcuffing techniques, first aid, fire prevention and extinction, and a review of the Prison Corps Law. After training, the officers will face a one‑year probationary period before possible definitive appointment.

The prison recruitment process aimed to fill five vacancies in total, three of which were newly created; the government plans to tender the remaining two positions next year. With the three new appointees in formation, prison staff will rise from 63 to 66 officers. The administration notes the current inmate‑to‑officer ratio is about 0.84 inmates per officer, a figure below the European average.

The Council of Ministers also approved longer‑term funding for biodiversity recovery. Between 2025 and 2029 the government plans to invest up to €1.3 million in programmes for 22 endangered species. Today’s allocation commits €714,222.67 over five years to implement recovery plans for seven species: the common toad (Bufo spinosus), wildcat (Felis silvestris), barn owl (Tyto alba), Eurasian scops owl (Otus scops), eagle‑owl (Bubo bubo), boreal owl (Aegolius funereus) and the Pallaresa rock lizard (Iberolacerta aurelioi).

The recovery plans were drafted by specialists and validated by the National Biodiversity Strategy coordination commission (CENBA). They aim to assess population status and drivers of decline, and to define targeted conservation actions as part of the broader strategy to protect 30% of Andorra’s territory.