Andorra and Slovenia – DTA and Artificial Intelligence cooperation

Andorra and Slovenia will negotiate a DTA and establish a roadmap to intensify bilateral cooperation in Artificial Intelligence, among other areas discussed during the visit of the head of the Andorran government, Xavier Espot, to Slovenia. Espot met with the Slovenian Prime Minister, Robert Golob, and both leaders expressed their interest in negotiating a double taxation avoidance agreement (DTA) to promote collaboration in economic projects between the two countries.

The meeting took place during the Espot’s visit to Slovenia, establishing a guide that will allow the intensification of collaboration between the two States, in areas such as the economy, tourism, sport and those related to digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence (AI). In this last aspect, one of the most important agreements was to strengthen cooperation in the field of digitalisation and artificial intelligence. In 2022, a collaboration agreement was established between Andorra Recerca i Innovació (AR+I) and the International Research Centre on Artificial Intelligence (IRCAI) based in Ljubljana, capital of Slovenia.

The two leaders exchanged the challenges and objectives that both governments have ahead. The process of bringing the Principality of Andorra closer to the European Union (EU), through an Association Agreement, will allow Andorra to participate in the internal market. This is what Espot explained to Golob at their meeting, also thanking the Slovenian Prime Minister for his support during the nine years of Andorra’s negotiations with the EU.

Espot also met with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Klemen Boštjančič, with whom he discussed economic and financial collaboration. The outcome of this meeting was the agreement to start negotiations for the signing of a double taxation avoidance agreement between the two countries, offering new business opportunities.

Tourism and sustainability were also topics of discussion. Espot and Golob are interested in both countries exchanging strategies for the viability of mountain resorts all year round, related to climate change. Applying sustainability policies in mountain areas, which favour tourism without impacting the environment, was one of the points on which they agreed.