CiF president Jaume Ferrer met earlier today with Trasmapi chair Rafael Cardona to sign off on two bilateral deals between the Council and the transport company. One of the agreements sets out yearly aid for Formentera's Office of Social Welfare. The four thousand euros in assistance will subsidise Formentera-Eivissa travel costs both for at-risk and underprivileged users of the local office and workers within the department.

The other agreement, which was struck with the Office of Tourism and is valid for three years, sets out a yearly sum of 10,000 euros to fund traveller and vehicle costs related to Formentera's tourism campaigns.  Under the agreement, the Formentera Council can use videos and posters on ships along the Eivissa-Formentera route to promote the island as a destination spot.

In addition, Trasmapi agrees to apply a 25% discount on tickets sold to participants of the island's Discover Formentera in May and October campaigns. Also enshrined in the second pact is Trasmapi's commitment to covering costs at the company's Vila office, which carries promotional material about Formentera. Two CiF councillors –Alejandra Ferrer of tourism and Vanessa Parellada of social welfare– were on hand at the signing too.

This morning in the plenary hall of the Formentera Council, President Jaume Ferrer met with the newly-appointed minister of the president's office of the Govern Balear, Pilar Costa. CiF councillors Susana Labrador, of the Office of Culture and Patrimony, Alejandra Ferrer, of the Office of Land Use and Tourism, and Sònia Cardona, of the Office of Community Involvement, were also at the meeting. In addition, the officials were joined by the chair  of the Govern Balear Office of Institutional Relations and Exterior Action, Margalida Font. President Ferrer seized the opportunity to thank the minister for her first official visit to Formentera.

The site of Formentera's ferry landing in the Eivissa port was one of the main topics of discussion at the meeting. According to the CiF president, the administration had asked the Govern Balear to get involved to help the parties “reach a solution mindful of the needs of Formentera”. The regional minister, for her part, spoke of conversations she has had since taking office a month and a half ago. She affirmed her belief that a consensus is possible, pointing to assurances received from all sides “that an agreement on this can be reached.”

The officials also used the meeting to discuss a new law on the island councils. In President Ferrer's words, what is needed is “flexibility”. “Formentera is the island with the most at stake with this law,” he maintained, pointing to the fact that the legislation was produced at a time when the Formentera Council didn't yet exist. Minister Costa made assurances that Formentera would play a direct role in the law's drafting.

Minister Costa made assurances that the final version of the law, expected soon, would be marked by direct participation from Formentera representatives. The officials also spoke about the importance of transferring tourism promotions jurisdiction to the island councils. Lastly, the CiF president asked Minister Costa to push for the signing —either in Palma or Madrid— of a new roads agreement, which would allow for improvements on Formentera's roadways.

At noon today in the doorsteps of the Formentera Council (CiF), a moment of silence was observed to grieve the loss of life of a woman in the Mallorca town of Port de Pollença. The woman died yesterday, a victim of gender violence. On hand were CiF president Jaume Ferrer, the Govern Balear's minister of the president's office, Pilar Costa, councillors from the ruling and opposition parties of the Council and the chairwoman of institutional, labour and resident relations on the island. The action was aimed at condemning the woman's senseless death. She is the third fatal victim of gender violence in the Balearics this year. 

A special plenary meeting was convened today with a drawing to determine the individuals who will staff the voting tables at next June 26's general elections. The final list can be viewed in the bulletin board section of the Formentera Council website.