The new financing model is not designed for the Balearic Islands

The best news for the citizens of the Balearic Islands regarding the new regional financing model proposed by the Spanish government is, above all, that a decisive step has been taken towards a review that is ten years overdue. Moreover, it comes about because President Pedro Sánchez had made a commitment to Catalonia in exchange for the corresponding parliamentary support. Therefore, it is evident when analyzing the first measures announced, pending the fine print—which will be essential—that the new framework was not designed with the Balearic Islands in mind. Although the government delegate in the Islands, as is his duty, is keen to emphasize that the region will receive an additional 412 million euros, which is certainly cause for celebration, this amount does not, by any means, resolve the enormous precariousness of the Islands' financing. This is especially true because the concept of population support is not incorporated. In the case of the Balearic Islands, this measure would have been key to breaking the terrible imbalance in services provided to the 18 million visitors who pass through the archipelago, something that has been historically ignored by the State. Now more than ever, we must ask ourselves if it is worth continuing to exploit the Islands' natural resources to boost tourism statistics. On the other hand, curiously, the fact that they have to accommodate students from other regions will be rewarded. This will go to Madrid and Catalonia. Meanwhile, the insularity criterion loses a tenth of a point in the new calculation, and therefore, not only is this reality, which clearly harms the competitiveness of businesses and the lives of residents, not taken into account, but its recognition is also reduced from the already meager 0.6% it had been established until now. Once again, the little weight that the Balearic Islands carry within the State as a whole has become evident, regardless of who governs in Madrid. Therefore, even if Marga Prohens' government has to raise its voice and protest, the resolution has been and will always be the same regardless of the political affiliation in power. And in this specific case, it's important to remember that the political impetus for this agreement stems from Sánchez's commitment to Catalonia, a region also historically disadvantaged by the balance between what it contributes to and receives from the State. In fact, the financing agreement between the Spanish government and ERC, signed last Thursday by Pedro Sánchez and Oriol Junqueras, and presented by the Minister of Finance, María Jesús Montero, represents a step forward for Catalonia. A significant reform of the current and outdated model, which had clearly proven detrimental to the region. Reforming the system substantially wasn't easy. It has been done, and some taboos have begun to be broken, such as the one concerning ordinality. With the numbers and the details in hand, Catalonia is by no means lacking in solidarity. In any case, what is now being proposed, and is pending approval in Congress, is a significant change. It is a fairer system for Catalonia and, at the same time, beneficial for all the regional governments.