The announcement of the extension of free public transport in the Balearic Islands, which will be approved in the next Council of Ministers, has been well received by the Consell de Ibizaalthough with reservations. The insular director of Transport, Roberto Algaba, described the measure as “a last minute surprise”, but pointed out that they will be attentive to the details of the agreement.
Increase in travelers and resource concerns
According to Algaba, the island has experienced a considerable increase in public transport users, from 5 to 7 million passengers, which shows the need for greater economic support. “It would not make sense to give continuity to this measure without increasing the economic resources we receive from both the central government and the Balearic Government,” said the island director in statements to Radio Ibiza.
He also stressed that this lack of foresight has made it difficult to plan to adapt to the new scenario. Algaba insisted that they will be vigilant as of Monday, when more details about the budget will be announced. The subsidy, which is part of the policies to compensate for insularity, seeks to encourage the use of public transport in a context of high energy and fuel prices. In 2024, the central executive earmarked 43 million euros for this initiative, and the next budget is expected to maintain or increase that figure, depending on the demands of local institutions.
Sharing of responsibilities
The central government has confirmed that it will continue to assume a significant part of the cost of the free service, but has also pointed out that the rest of the financing will have to be provided by the Balearic Government and the island councils. The Consell de Ibiza warns that effective coordination is crucial to ensure that the funds are sufficient to cover the growing demand of users on the island. The final details of the agreement will be known next Monday, but the Consell insist that they will keep an eye on the conditions to ensure that the measure translates into a real improvement for the citizens of Ibiza.
