The first Conference of Presidents of the Legislature has focused on coordinating policies to manage the upcoming tourist season.

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The fight against illegal tourism and reinforce public transport

The President has also pledged to reclaim the road agreements of the regional councils from the central government.

The President of the Government of the Balearic Islands, Marga Prohens, met this Monday with the four presidents of the island councils at the first Conference of Presidents of the current legislature. The meeting focused on coordinating policies for managing the upcoming tourist season, in which Prohens and the presidents agreed to intensify the fight against illegal tourism, reinforcing the tourist inspection service, increasing the number of staff and with protocols for collaboration with local police forces.

In terms of mobility, public transport will be strengthened. “In Mallorca, which is where we have powers, we will incorporate 10 buses to intercity public transport on the island to reinforce existing lines and establish some new connections,” said Prohens. The President also referred to the Government’s commitment to allow each council to regulate the entry of vehicles onto the island based on objective load criteria and also the need to be able to improve the road network, “which requires the resources from the road agreement to arrive, which of course this Government will fight for in Madrid”.

Speaking after the first Conference of Presidents of the current legislature, Prohens explained that water was also one of the issues at the centre of the meeting. She recalled that last January the Water Pact was signed with the four island councils, to which 20 million euros have been earmarked for the water network to prevent leaks, and 130 million euros for investments planned with this finalist Fund for Investment in the Water Cycle for this year.

Finally, the problem of the coverage of the Security Forces and Corps, such as the National Police and the Civil Guard, has also been addressed. “Therefore, we once again call for the updating of the residence allowance to ensure a dignified insularity”, he insisted.

The meeting was attended by the president of the Consell de Mallorca, Llorenç Galmés; the president of the Consell de Eivissa, Vicent Marí; the president of the Consell de Menorca, Dolfo Vilafranca; the president of the Consell de Formentera, Llorenç Córdoba; and the councillor of the presidency and public administration, Antònia Estarellas. Prohens added that “each island has to be what its citizens want it to be, the way of being and living and the idiosyncrasies of each island have to be respected, but obviously as islands we have shared challenges to which the Govern wants to respond, of course, hand in hand and always listening to each of the four councils”.