In Oct. 2022, basic products on Formentera cost 18% more than on Eivissa and 22% more than in mainland Spain

These findings were revealed by a 2022 study comparing the prices of ten basic products conducted by the Formentera Data Observatory. In addition, from January to October, the cost of these groceries increased 21%

The Formentera Data Observatory of the Consell de Formentera conducted a study on the local cost of groceries compared to Eivissa and mainland Spain. Prices were also compared between January and October 2022 –before and after the start of the war in Ukraine– to see how inflation has affected commodities.

The prices of ten basic private label products were compared for the study: one kilo of rice, one loaf of bread, one dozen eggs, one head of lettuce, one five-litre jug of water, one litre of whole milk, one litre of sunflower oil, one litre of olive oil, one kilo of potatoes and one kilo of chicken.

To run the comparison, the engineers of the study looked at two large supermarkets on Eivissa, two on the mainland, and the two Formentera supermarkets with the lowest prices. In January 2022 it cost 13% more to buy groceries on Formentera than on Eivissa and 12% more than on the mainland. In October 2022, shopping on Formentera was 18% more expensive than on Eivissa and 22% more expensive than on the mainland.

Month-to-month comparison
During this first year of data collection, the comparison was performed in a total of five Formentera stores. Among them, variations of up to 60% were detected between the highest and lowest prices.

Moreover, comparing the average cost of these basic purchases in the five stores in January 2022 with October 2022, the local cost of groceries increased by 21%. During this same period, prices increased by 17% on Eivissa and by 11% on mainland Spain.

"These data highlight the sharp premium that Formentera residents face when making basic purchases, and that this has increased in the last year", explained Alejandra Ferrer, vice president and head of the Formentera Data Observatory. Vice President Ferrer voiced concern about "the great expense that Formentera residents face when buying basic items on the island" and asserted, "We will continue with these studies and implement new ones, improving our working methodology to discover the real cost of living on Formentera and introduce or request measures to offset our insularity".

Furthermore, the Consell de Formentera has requested a meeting with the Small and Medium-Sized Business Group (Pimef) to explain the data obtained and discuss this issue.

This year, small businesses on Eivissa and in mainland Spain have been included in the study to make it possible to compare all types of establishments in the three locations. Sampling will also be conducted more frequently to obtain more specific data.

Complete data from the study can be found in the "Visió del Resident" section of the Formentera Data Observatory website. https://www.observatorideformentera.cat/visions/visio-del-resident/cistella-de-la-compra/

16 March 2023
Office of Communication
Consell de Formentera

A new master artisan and seven new artisans on Formentera

foto 2023iii artesa C Today Ana Juan, president and commerce councillor of the Consell de Formentera, has delivered eight new artisan cards to the islanders who passed the exam last year. The following individuals have obtained cards: Lorenzo Pepe, master artisan jeweller; Rosa Collell, artisan bag maker; Lorena Escandell, artisan knitter; Maria del Carmen Costa Ferrer, artisan sewer; Leile Ghenem, artisan trimmer; Valentina Llorens Matutes, artisan costume jeweller; Pep Juan Castelló, artisan jeweller, and Carlo de Bortoli, Debo, artisan object decorator.

First of all, President Juan congratulated the artisans who received cards. "Today Formentera craftwork is in luck, because the fact that every year we have more artisans, and also more young people, who are eager to train, learn and grow shows us that we have a strong and consolidated sector". The president said that last year the artisan exams, which had not been held since 2017, were reinstated and six diplomas were awarded — five to artisans and one to a master artisan. "Manual craftwork is a fundamental trade in our commercial fabric that must be valued and one that administrations must support, protect and promote", said Juan, who also congratulated the representatives of the technical panel that evaluated examiners.

The new artisans passed an examination evaluated by the technical craftsmanship panel in November. The panel was made up of managers of Consell departments and master craftsmen. During the exams, artisans had to make the product in which they sought specialisation in their workshop, while panel members observed the working methods and asked practical questions about technique and the production process. Depending on whether they opt for the title of artisan or master artisan, aspiring artisans must also have knowledge of foundational subjects such as basic notions of the craft; tools, equipment and machinery of the trade; origin of materials used; preparation, handling, processing and finishing; professional safety and hygiene, and more.

With the newly accredited artisans, today Formentera has 75 card-holding artisans, 12 master artisans and four honorary master artisans.

15 March 2023
Office of Communication
Consell de Formentera

New police officers on Formentera

foto 2023iii nous policies Today Ana Juan, president of the Consell, swore in a new interim officer of the Formentera Local Police (PLF) and welcomed the three new students who will complete the basic training course for local police officers at the Balearic School of Public Administration (Escola Balear d'Administració Pública, EBAP) and who are expected to perform practica on the local force this summer. Josep Marí, interior councillor, and Félix Ramos, chief of the PLF, also attended.

The PLF has a staff of 16 officers, three of whom are currently in training. In the summer, the force is expected to reach 19 officers, including the trainees now starting the course.

15 March 2023
Office of Communication
Consell de Formentera

Meeting of Management Commission for Professional Artisanal Fishing in Inland Waters of Pine Islands

foto 2023iii com pesca Today the Management Commission for Professional Artisanal Fishing in Inland Waters of the Pine Islands gathered in the assembly hall of the Consell de Formentera. Attendees included heads of fisheries of the Balearic Government, Consell de Formentera and Consell d'Eivissa, as well as representatives of the professional fishing sector of the Balearic Islands and conservation groups.

"The aim of this commission -pioneering in the islands- is to work jointly between the administrations, fishermen's guilds and environmental groups to make fishing sustainable in our islands", explained Josep Marí, rural affairs councillor, who attended the meeting with Joan Mercant, regional director general of fisheries, among other authorities.

Meeting participants discussed the census of authorised vessels, the state of lobster fishing, proposed management measures and measures to improve monitoring, among other matters.

14 March 2023
Office of Communication
Consell de Formentera

Formentera promotes new smoke-free spaces as part of AECC's #RespiroLibre push

foto 2023iii aecc B Today Ana Juan, president of the Consell de Formentera, and Dr José Reyes Moreno, president of the Balearic Islands chapter of the Spanish Association to Stop Cancer (Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer, AECC), signed a collaboration agreement with which the island's government joins an AECC campaign called #BreatheFree (#RespiroLibre) aiming to change our everyday spaces to encourage healthy lifestyle habits and teach people about well-being. Hence, on Formentera, spaces like playgrounds, schools and sports centres that are typically used by younger islanders will be signposted to raise awareness and sensitise the population.

In parallel, the aim is to promote life without tobacco, remove the aura of normality around tobacco consumption, reinforce role models for young people and care for the environment. This Thursday a presentation was made around 'Smoke-Free Spaces'. President Juan; Dr Reyes; Jaume Bellido and Ana Belén Velasco, vice president and manager of the Balearic chapter of the AECC, respectively, and Pepita Gabaldar, president of the AECC's Regional Board for Formentera, all attended.

President Juan stressed "the importance of smoke-free spaces on Formentera to raising awareness among islanders, especially young ones, about the need to eliminate these habits from society". Finally, the president applauded the AECC's "constant work to prevent cancer on the island".

For his part, Dr Reyes affirmed, "We are working together to denormalise and reduce smoking among the population, particularly youth, to prevent them from starting". As the AECC president in the Balearics asserted, "this will mean, among other measures, multiplying the spaces where people can breathe freely so that no one is forced to breathe this smoke that is so harmful to our health".

The noxious effects of tobacco
Tobacco is the major risk factor for cancer and the data are conclusive: one out of every three cases of cancer is tobacco-related and involves someone who smokes, has smoked or who has been exposed to second-hand smoke; more than a dozen types of cancer are associated with this risk factor and it is responsible for more than 80% of lung and laryngeal cancers as well as between 30% and 50% of bladder, oropharyngeal and esophageal cancers and cancers of the mouth.