Aran Syndic calls for improved connectivity in the Pyrenees

Maria Vergés, the Syndic of Aran, has called for improved interconnection and territorial cohesion within the Pyrenees region. Speaking at the Jornades per a l’Excel·lència in Esterri d’Àneu, Vergés highlighted the difficulties of traveling between mountain counties, noting that journeys such as those between Val d’Aran and Seu d’Urgell often require crossing two mountain passes, sometimes making it faster to reach Lleida instead.

Vergés criticized public policies that are designed solely based on population numbers, arguing that such approaches perpetuate inequalities based on postal codes. Jesús Montoliu, president of the Association of Jornades per a l’excel·lència a l’alta muntanya, noted that while the Pyrenees accounts for nearly 20% of the country's territory, it contains only about 1% of its population. He emphasized that in mountain regions, distance is measured in hours rather than kilometers, and warned that insufficient transport and digital connectivity limit opportunities for living, working, and studying.

An accompanying survey of residents indicated that 91% view mobility in the territory as improvable, bad, or very bad, while 71% identified an excessive dependence on private vehicles. Joan Talarn, president of the Diputació de Lleida, also supported the need for better connections to facilitate access to services concentrated in Lleida and Barcelona.