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Rewarding illegal construction in rural areas or allowing building in high-risk zones represents a major setback in land-use policies. Such measures undermine the critical discussions needed to decide the Balearic Islands’ development model.

The GOB has officially withdrawn from the Sustainability Pact. The government’s continued push for regressive policies renders its proposed debates meaningless and reduces citizen and environmental organizations’ participation to mere window dressing.

Until now, the GOB has actively participated in all forums where it was invited, contributing concrete proposals. However, recent decisions by the Balearic Government, including approving measures that roll back environmental protection by 40 years, force us to say enough is enough.

Some elements included in the misnamed “Administrative Simplification Law” undermine any potential results of the Sustainability Pact.

Specifically, the GOB, representing all four islands, calls on the Prohens Government to remove three key provisions from the law:

Legalizing illegal buildings in rural areas: This represents the largest speculative operation ever undertaken, rewarding rule-breakers while penalizing those who have followed the law.
Allowing construction in risk zones: Permitting residential buildings in areas prone to flooding, fires, erosion, or landslides prioritizes economic interests over human safety.
Enabling development in protected natural areas: Zones safeguarded by the Natural Spaces Law (such as ANEIs and ARIPs) were identified based on scientific studies of their natural values. In an archipelago under intense tourism pressure, with resources like drinking water running low and beaches overcrowded, these protected areas must remain off-limits to urban development.

The GOB urges the government to eliminate these harmful provisions and calls for a genuine commitment to sustainable development.