The Consell de Formentera reports that, during the Christmas holidays, the roadworthiness test site (Inspección Técnica de Vehículos, ITV) will be closed 27 to 30 December. 22 December will be the last day for scheduled appointments, with the following day reserved for second inspections and preparations for the yearly closure. The site will reopen 2 January.

14 December 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

Today the Chamber of Commerce and Consell de Formentera handed out prizes to winners of the 16th Christmas Window Dressing Contest celebrating island businesses that encourage and promote a festive Christmas atmosphere. Ana Juan, president and councillor of commerce, and Lina Tur and Lina Bustos, of the Chamber of Commerce, presented the following awards to the winning businesses:

Best Christmas atmosphere: Kentia Atelier.
Best window dressing: Formentera Report.
Originality: Isla Bonita Supermarket.
Ecocreativity: Pescadería Nuestra Señora del Carmen.

President Juan congratulated the winners and highlighted "the great imagination and creativity that went into decorating shop windows during the Christmas holidays". Juan also pointed up "the joint work between the local administration and merchants to continue improving and innovating a key sector for Formentera".

The jury included Amalia Mora, Sabina Mayoral, Lina Bustos and Santi Juan, department director for the Consell.

14 December 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

Today Formentera hosted an official commemoration of the 44th anniversary of the Constitution in the events hall of the Consell de Formentera . In a speech, President Ana Juan pointed out that "democratic coexistence is essential if we are going to keep improving the quality of life and the rights of our residents", and pushed for "the civic conscience" that characterised the generation of politicians who drafted the Constitution. "We must remember it and push Formentera in 2022 to the fore", she said.

She stressed that "at times like these, marked by the pandemic and the energy crisis stemming from the war in Ukraine, it is essential that there is a democratic union and that governments invest in policies to protect their citizens and strengthen the social safety-net safeguarding the rights which our Constitution enshrines".

President Juan noted that regional spending in 2023 on Formentera -"expected to grow 57%", she said- and the local municipal budget "are focused on social and environmental policies, circular economy, preserving our heritage and social sustainability. This is our goal and our demand: working to improve the quality of life and the rights of our residents".

"We are managing to be heard, to make our own decisions and, as a local administration that is close to people, to act for the good and the improvement of our neighbours. As political representatives it is our obligation to make it so and if we want to leave future generations with a better and fairer Formentera we must continue working together", she said. Juan offered that "the Spanish Constitution must adapt to new realities" and that "here on Formentera we've continued to call for a senator for the island as a figure that channels the actions and decisions that affect Formentera".

The event ended with a musical performance by Xumeu Joan, teacher of the School of Music and Dance of Formentera, and student Hugo Escandell. The two played La Calera and La Llarga.

6 December 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

The Office of Local Development of the Consell de Formentera reports that 24 November marked the start of two programmes, one to prepare leisure activity leaders in Catalan, another to train specialists in social-health care for dependent persons in social institutions. Both courses are organised by the Consell de Formentera.

The six young people selected in the Youth Training and Employment programme (SOIB Jove - Formació i Ocupació) of the Balearic Employment Office (SOIB) will hold their positions six months and obtain professional certification for leading educational leisure activities for children and youth. Meanwhile, the nine unemployed people selected for SOIB's programme for over-30s (SOIB 30 - Formació i Ocupació) will hold their positions for six months and get professional accreditation in social-health care for dependent people in social institutions.

Ana Juan, president and councillor of entrepreneurship of the Consell de Formentera, highlighted "the importance of training and employment programmes that open a door to employment and build skills".

The two programmes are "mixed", meaning they combine real work and theory-based/hands-on training under vocational training and apprenticeship contracts, and their purpose is to increase participants' employability by promoting new professional skills and offering work experience as part of a personalised professional growth track.

The SOIB 30 programme is funded by the SOIB with a €109,896.30 grant from the Sectorial Conference on Employment and Labour. The SOIB Jove programme is paid for in part by the SOIB with the participation of SEPE, and receives a €107,096.30 grant through the European Social Fund (2021-2027).

5 December 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera