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Formentera Council requests extension for negotiations re transfer of authority in tourism

formenteramaig webThis morning the councilor of Tourism, Trade and Transport of the Formentera Island Council, Alejandra Ferrer, delivered a text to the president of the technical committee for the transfer of functions and services in tourism to the Balearic community's different island councils. The councilor's text was a response to the Govern Balear's failure to present a proposal specific to the already-mentioned power transfer, previously given a maximum deadline of 31 March.

Considering the established deadline has passed and given the size of the economic package that would accompany such a transfer of functions, the Formentera Island Council is requesting that proceedings be opened to once again extend the deadline for negotiations. An extension of the negotiating deadline would also suppose extra time to submit the corresponding draft proposal to the Comissió mixta de Transferències, the commission charged with overseeing the transfer. The extension will assure adequate time is provided for a careful study of the Govern Balear's proposal so that an objective evaluation can be given in response.

At the second session of the technical committee, 24 February, representatives of the Govern Balear proposed establishing guidelines for what would be the budgetary aspects of the transfer. It was then determined that an economic proposal would be drafted by the regional government in Palma and that the local councils would themselves be charged with drafting a document – one per council – both objectively studying the variables to consider when determining each local administration's economic package and proposing options for continued funding.

One idea put forth by our local council with regard to funding was to establish both a fixed and variable base, which would factor in gross interior product, the number of tourist beds available, etc. It is nevertheless necessary to first establish and specify the functions and services intended when referring to the concept of 'tourism promotions' in order to provide sufficient funding for this.

Considering that the committee's third session (11 March) failed to yield an economic proposal with regard to the transfer of tourism promotion functions, the Govern committed once again to drafting and submitting the document to the different councils for its immediate study.

The Formentera Council believes that the established deadline for concluding technical studies of the committee – 31 March, 2014 – is insufficient considering the work that must be done. Difficulties currently being met in the negotiation and consensus process also indicate that this date is perhaps unrealistic.

Thus, with three days remaining until the established deadline is reached, no proposal for a preliminary text indicating the specifics of the authority transfer has been received.