Formentera seeks Madrid’s help in getting ahead of Sustainable Development Goals

reunio---presidenta-senador1Formentera’s president Alejandra Ferrer sat down today with the Balearic Islands’ representative in the Senate, José Vicente Marí Bosó, at the head offices of local government. The president thanked the Balearic senator for his visit and seized the opportunity to impress on him the island’s principal appeals in the hope Marí Bosó convey them to the government in Madrid.

Much of the talk at the gathering centred on climate change. “We spoke about asking the central government to lend local administrations a hand so we can make real progress on the Sustainable Development Goals”, explained Ferrer.

Highways agreement
Another topic to receive attention was the importance of striking a new highways agreement, or conveni de carreteres, between Formentera and Madrid. “Formentera's is the only Balearic council that made the investment, paid its bill and accounted for the expenditure”, noted Marí Bosó. “So we'll be encouraging our counterparts in Madrid to move quickly on the new agreement, and reminding the Ministry of Development that those who follow the rules need to be rewarded for it”.

The president also called Marí Bosó’s attention to the fact Formentera lacks its own senator. Other issues raised included the importance of developing the Spanish Coastal Law on Formentera — “just as long”, added Ferrer, “as we defend the rights of the landowners who are most affected by it”. Sea and air travel discounts for islanders and freight featured among the other points on President Ferrer’s agenda, “not to mention maintaining air connections in the wake of the Air Europa and Iberia merger”.

Senator Marí Bosó made assurances he would advocate for including Formentera’s needs around public investment —as well as water purification upgrades and subsidised waste transport costs— in the spending plans of the central government.


4 December 2019
Department of Communication
Consell de Formentera