The Government opens the door to more solar parks and large retail spaces

Solar farms on rural land with no restrictions other than protected areas, shopping centers, or other businesses that may be established with a simple declaration of responsibility, without waiting for a license. These are some of the new features included in the Decree Law to accelerate projects approved in early September by the Marga Prohens government and now in force.

The law allows the Administration to accelerate new investments by exempting and eliminating procedures for selected projects. Furthermore, it reopens the door for companies and individuals to not need a license, in many cases, and can be governed by a simple declaration of responsibility. This is a further boost to the promise of simplifying the procedures carried out by the Executive, and which—as already occurred with the legalization of rural land—not only reduces bureaucracy but also liberalizes and eliminates restrictions for public and private developers.

The decree-law consolidates the so-called Renewable Energy Acceleration Zones (ZARIB), which will allow the installation of solar farms on almost all rural land. The only exceptions will be protected land, irrigated areas, and land receiving aid from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), supposedly agriculturally active. On the remaining rural land, if the municipality agrees, these projects can move forward without needing to declare them of general interest, as has been the case until now.

Until recently, it seemed that solar farm projects would be much more restricted by the zoning being prepared by the Consell de Mallorca (Mallorca Council). Now, the only requirement will be strategic status. The decree-law itself regulates what types of projects can obtain this designation: basically, they are "investment proposals to reindustrialize" and "consolidate the Balearic industrial fabric" and boost and innovate its economy. Another reference in the law speaks of proposals "linked to economic activities that provide added value." According to a government technician who followed the decree law's processing, the formula "allows for any project the government wishes to promote, simplifying the process and even eliminating current regulatory requirements."

To be declared strategic, a project must secure a minimum investment: €500,000 for agricultural proposals, €3 million for innovation, research, health, and education; and €10 million for other sectors.

The decree law takes the opportunity not only to establish a whole series of criteria to accelerate projects, but also to liberalize and simplify economic activity in general: it orders the regional ministries to analyze all those procedures where the license can be eliminated as a prerequisite for starting an activity or facility, and can be replaced by a simple responsible declaration. Before the end of the year, each regional ministry must make a list of the licenses it can eliminate, and within 2026 the Government will promote the necessary legislative changes.

Without activity license

One of the major reforms promoted by this decree-law is precisely the regulation of activities ranging from restaurants to industries and large commercial establishments. Until now, development companies had to apply for this authorization, but now they will be able to start their business with a declaration of responsibility. The Government also asks town councils, through the decree, to find ways to simplify all confusing procedures.

The government's regulation also modifies the Waste Law to transport manure from Ibiza for incineration in Mallorca. The measures of this operation have generated much controversy, especially among residents of Son Sardina and environmental groups such as the GOB.

This entire regulation has been in force since September 7th, since—as a decree-law—it is applied automatically. However, this speed requires it to be validated within the following 30 days. Therefore, this Tuesday, the 30th, the Executive must secure—in addition to the support of its own parliamentary group, the People's Party (PP)—the favorable vote of Vox. Otherwise, the legislation would be repealed.

Economic revitalization

According to the Executive, the regulation aims to contribute to the economic revitalization of the Balearic Islands. It admits that, despite their sustained growth, "a progressive decline and decrease in disposable income has been observed compared to the Spanish average and that of other regions." Therefore, the Government believes it is essential to "combat one of the main obstacles to economic growth" in the Archipelago: excessive bureaucracy. The complexity of administrative procedures, the Executive asserts, had become an obstacle for companies and investors, and had hindered the implementation of projects and slowed the diversification of the productive fabric.

The regulation creates a single processing framework for Projects of Special Strategic Interest (PEIE), which will have a preferential, simplified procedure with institutional support. A committee made up of a councilor and seven general directors—and without external or sectoral participation—will decide which projects deserve to be accelerated. The priority areas for investment are innovation and research, health, education, and water cycle management, considered "essential for retaining talent and improving sustainability."