The Official State Gazette (BOE) published this Wednesday the decree law that establishes the free public transport in the Balearic and Canary Islands during 2025. According to the text, the Ministry of Transport will assume “entirely” the cost of the measure in both communities, arguing that it is a recognition of the insular fact. For this purpose, the decree contemplates an initial budget allocation of 17.41 million euros for the Balearic Islands, with the possibility of expansion through budget modifications.
The decree provides for the financing of the 100% discount on the price of transport passes and multi-journey tickets for collective land public transport on the islands.
The text also specifies that the Balearic Government must submit a certificate to the Ministry of Transport certifying the implementation of the discount from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025. Once the aid is granted, the autonomous community will have to compensate proportionally the administrations or companies managing land transport. In addition, the decree includes a specific scheme for direct aid to passenger transport and measures to promote bicycle loan services on the islands.
The Government’s response
The Councilor for Housing, Territory and Mobility, José Luis Mateo, recalled that in 2023 and 2024 the autonomous community assumed most of the expenditure on transport. In 2024, according to his data, the Balearic Executive contributed 54 million euros, while the central government contributed only 14.6 million.
Mateo has demanded that the State fully finance the measure and has criticized the lack of coordination between the two administrations. “We are talking about measures that come to us from Madrid without us being participants or having been able to collaborate in their design,” he said at a press conference. In addition, he stressed that the improvisation in the management of these aids hinders their application in the islands. The central government, for its part, has defended the measure and maintains that the allocation of funds will be adjusted to the needs of the community. However, the Balearic Government insists that the total cost of free transport amounts to at least 63 million euros per year, which would generate a deficit if the state funding is not increased.
