The Balearic Government has approved this Tuesday the creation of an inter-institutional commission to plan and coordinate all actions related to the total solar eclipse that will be visible from the Balearic Islands on August 12, 2026, a unique astronomical event in more than a century.
The commission will be attached to the Regional Ministry of the Presidency and will be created with a transversal character, with the objective of guaranteeing an effective and anticipated response to the expected population increase in key observation points of the phenomenon.
“It is essential to have an instrument of coordination between administrations and agents involved,” stressed the spokesman of the Government, Antoni Costa, who is also Minister of Economy.
A historical phenomenon with logistical impact
The Balearic Islands is among the most strategic territories to observe this eclipse, which has not been repeated for more than a hundred years. According to Costa, the event will attract thousands of people, which will require a special management in matters such as security, civil protection, mobility, management of observation areas and information to citizens.
The main functions of the future commission will include the drafting of a regional action plan, the promotion of awareness campaigns and the monitoring of preventive measures to reduce the impact of the event.
Composition and specialized working groups
The body will be chaired by the Minister of the Presidency, Antònia Maria Estarellas, and will include representatives of the Government, the four island councils, the Federation of Local Entities of the Balearic Islands (Felib), the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB) and astronomical associations. Experts and other institutions may also be invited.
In order to ensure specific attention, four working groups will be created:
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Mobility, prevention, civil protection and environmental risk management.
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Public health.
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Communication and tourism.
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Scientific dissemination.
An opportunity for scientific dissemination
In addition to minimizing the possible negative effects of the eclipse, the Balearic Government intends to turn it into an opportunity to project the Balearic Islands as a reference in astronomy, education and science. The commission will encourage the participation of the educational, scientific and informative community around the event.
The commission must be constituted within a maximum period of two months from the publication of the agreement in the Official Gazette of the Balearic Islands (BOIB) and will meet quarterly. Its operation will not imply additional costs for the public coffers, since it will not have a specific budget allocation.
