The PP generalizes the use of the responsible declaration

PalmThe Government is taking advantage of the parliamentary process for the decree-law promoting strategic projects to broaden the use of the "responsible declaration," a mechanism that allows citizens and businesses to ensure their compliance with the law without having to wait for the required permit. With the amendments presented this Thursday to the decree-law, the Popular Party's parliamentary group is significantly expanding the application of this mechanism. If the current wording is approved, the use of responsible declarations will apply to all procedures initiated by interested parties within the Balearic Islands' public administrations and instrumental public sector entities, provided they are accompanied by accredited documentation. This certification will be a document provided by a range of authorized entities, from professional associations to certified companies. The certifying entities will guarantee that the documentation accurately reflects the facts. Professional associations can do so within their areas of competence, chambers of commerce within their territorial scope, administrative certification bodies and entities regulated by sector-specific legislation, as well as other entities and legal persons that meet the solvency and efficiency requirements.

The government of Marga Prohens argues that this mechanism seeks a balance between administrative efficiency and the guarantee of legal compliance. However, opposition parties and several organizations point out that there are sensitive areas, such as urban planning, where there is a risk of losing control and rigor, especially in activities such as construction on rural land and others with environmental impact.

Importation of waste for 10 years

Among the PP's amendments is also the importation of waste from the Pitiusas Islands to Mallorca. According to the wording of the proposal, the agreement between the island institutions to burn the waste in Mallorca will last up to ten years.

On the other hand, the PP's amendments propose that 20% of the Local Police positions be filled by military personnel with five years of experience. However, this is only if the city councils deem it appropriate in their respective job postings.

MÁS is committed to housing

The amendments proposed by MÉS per Mallorca include a benefit for people who cannot access public housing due to administrative reasons. The eco-sovereignist party also advocates doubling the Sustainable Tourism Tax (ITS) to allocate funds to agriculture, livestock farming, fishing, industry, and crafts, as well as to the decommissioning of outdated tourist facilities, access to housing, and the learning and promotion of the social use of Catalan. Regarding Catalan, MÉS per Mallorca wants to reinstate the articles of Pere Sampol's Commerce Law that the PP repealed to guarantee non-discrimination against Catalan speakers in shops. It proposes measures to ensure that health and civil service laws facilitate Catalan language learning for newcomers and guarantee the use of Catalan by the administration and civil servants.

Regarding education, it is proposed to create a maximum price or regulated rates for extracurricular activities in public and state-subsidized schools outside of regular school hours for the first cycle of preschool. It is also included that the education authorities regulate school transport services and discretionary transport for school activities.

Project Quality

The PSIB proposes in its amendments that strategic projects, which involve acceleration and exemption from many regulations, "must have a sufficient degree of concreteness and maturity." Otherwise, the situation should be assessed to halt the procedure if necessary. According to the Socialists, strategic projects cannot be located on just any land, as the Popular Party proposes (even in protected areas), but rather "can only be located on land classified as urban or developable, provided that the project activity falls within the permitted uses." Otherwise, the location must be justified, as stated in the PSIB's amendment. The Socialists have also used the amendments to make non-specific contributions regarding the decree-law. They are asking the Government to initiate, "within a maximum period of six months, in coordination with the island councils, the processing of a marine and coastal management plan for each island," as they consider the lack of these instruments, essential for "sustainability, climate resilience, carrying capacity, and compatibility," to be a significant deficiency.