Ciutadella calls on regional government to have PortsIB take over Cala en Bosc marina’s management

The local council advocates for a public management model that ensures transparency, fair access to berths, and service to the public.

The Ciutadella de Menorca City Council will urge the Government of the Balearic Islands to assume direct management of the Cala en Bosc marina through the public company Ports de les Illes Balears (PortsIB), once the provisional management period resulting from the expiration of the current administrative concession comes to an end.

The Cala en Bosc marina is an infrastructure of high strategic value for the municipality and for Menorca as a whole. The end of the concession presents an opportunity to strengthen public oversight, ensure transparency in the provision of services, and guarantee that the marina fulfils a social function in service of the public.

For decades, the management of the marina has been marked by an exceptional regime compared to other regional ports, leading to economic controversies, maintenance issues, and a sense of lack of protection among users and the local community. In this context, the City Council believes that the current provisional management should not lead to a new privatisation process that would perpetuate known imbalances or ongoing difficulties in accessing berths.

The proposal for direct management by PortsIB would ensure effective public supervision, safeguard the rights of current users, and organise waiting lists according to fair and transparent criteria, in line with the demands expressed by berth holders at the marina. This model also guarantees professional, objective management focused on the general interest.

The initiative proposes that direct management should not prevent the granting of concessions or authorisations for complementary or auxiliary services, provided these do not affect the core of port management or the public nature of the marina, thereby offering operational flexibility without relinquishing public control.

Furthermore, the City Council places this decision within the broader context of the debate surrounding amendments to the Law on Ports of the Balearic Islands, warning of the risk that certain policies may favour privatisation and increased economic pressure on the coastline, to the detriment of the general interest and residents’ access.

For all these reasons, the City Council considers it necessary to clearly express its desire for the Cala en Bosc marina to be managed directly by PortsIB, as a means of ensuring transparent, accessible administration in the service of the citizens of Ciutadella and Menorca.