The plenary session of Parliament approved this Wednesday the Menorca Biosphere Reserve Law, which grants the Island Council instruments for, among other issues, limit the entry of vehicles, act in matters of water resources and coastline, as well as manage the figure of a biosphere reserve, when 30 years have passed since this declaration by Unesco.
the new norm It also opens the door to limit anchoring on the coast, support measures for the primary sector, as well as the promotion of the consumption of local products.
A special financing mechanism of five million euros is also created with a contribution of 75% by the Government and 25% by the island institution, whose destination must set a commission and which will serve to finance actions to improve public transport and promotion of renewable energies.
The island councilor for Medio Ambiente and spokesperson for Més per Menorca, Joseph Juanedahas indicated that it is a “historic day” for the Menorcans and has claimed that his group “knew how to stand up” so that the Island Council “approved the law that the Menorcans had decided.”
Juaneda has stressed that the new law guarantees the future and well-being of citizens and that the next generations can have quality of life in a sustainable environment. At the same time, he has defended that the problems of the Menorcans “be resolved in Menorca”.
For her part, the Island Councilor for Work, Housing and Local Cooperation and spokesperson for United We Can (UP), Cristina Gomez, has highlighted the approval of a “pioneering” law at the state level. He also highlighted that PSIB, UP and Més “have been able to reconsider and overcome obstacles in the middle of the negotiation.”
During the debate on the proposal, the PP deputy Juan Manuel Lafuentewhich has also defended the petition, finally rejected with 24 votes in favor and 32 against, of the opinion to the Consell Consultiuhas regretted that “an important opportunity has been lost.”
According to Lafuente, a “bad law” has been approved for Menorcans and for the general public and that generates “forced expenses” that the Island Council will have to assume.
He has criticized the fact that five million euros are “scratched” to the Island Council. In this sense, he has indicated that if his amendment to guarantee contributions had been accepted, they would have abstained.
“It was a law that had to be clarified and that, however, complicates management with rules that are repeated and introducing differences between islands,” he stated. Lafuente has criticized that the norm introduces more bureaucracy and has warned that it does not ensure financing.
In her speech, the Vox deputy Idoia Ribas regretted the push for policies that “discourage” diversification and that “They have only made Menorca increasingly dependent on tourism without consensus” and that they will contribute, in his opinion, to the “collapse.” He has also warned of the shadows of unconstitutionality, reports Europa Press.
Joseph Ferra, On behalf of Més per Mallorca, he explained that the law is necessary because biosphere reserves are considered protected areas by international instruments, but without prejudice to being able to equip themselves with their own tools to reinforce protection.
The deputy of United We Can Pablo Jimenez He has defended that it is a law that tries to make the preservation of the territory compatible with social equity and economic activity.
«We approved a specific, elaborated and important law for the island of Menorca. And it is due to the need to have a legal tool that reinforces the values that prompted the designation of Menorca Biosphere Reserve, for placing the island on a regulatory level at the level of current environmental and territorial challenges and for having greater self-management capacity,” he argued.
Advisory Council
In relation to the request to the Consultiu, the people’s deputy recalled that the director of the CAIB Advocacy, who was a socialist deputy, recommended asking for the opinion. On this matter, the representative of Més for Menorca, Joseph Castellshas remembered that “That alleged report never existed, but was a draft.”
For the popular, it would have been necessary to request the opinion of the Consultation, among other issues, to determine if a sectoral law could affect the distribution of powers in the future. It has also questioned that some articles could affect state powers.
On the request to the Consultative Committee, the deputy of the PSIB Pilar Carbonero He has criticized that the ultimate intention of the PP with this claim is to “delay” the approval of the law. Juan Manuel Lafuente has explained that the only intention is to transfer “the doubts” to the Consultiu and he has affirmed that if he had ruled in favor of the proposals of the law, the PP would have given him its support. For the ‘popular’, the left wants to “sign up the holder of having approved the law.”
