The Parliament of the Balearic Islands has approved the validation of an emergency decree aimed at speeding up strategic projects that contribute to the region’s economic, social and territorial transformation. The regulation establishes a unified legal framework designed to reduce administrative red tape, strengthen legal certainty and improve the efficiency of public administration.

The decree introduces the concept of Projects of Special Strategic Interest (PSSI), which may apply to both private and public initiatives, provided they have a significant impact on the development of the Balearic Islands.

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Parliament approves decree to fast-track strategic projects in the Balearic Islands

For private-sector projects, two alternative pathways are defined to obtain PSSI status. The first is based on minimum investment thresholds: from €500,000 for agricultural projects; from €3 million for initiatives related to innovation, research, healthcare, education or the water cycle; and from €10 million for other strategic projects. The second pathway focuses on job creation or retention, requiring the creation of between five and twenty full-time jobs—depending on the sector or area—or the preservation of at least 25 existing jobs at risk of being lost.

Private projects declared as PSSI will benefit from priority administrative processing and preferential access to public funding and grants. In all cases, approval will be subject to technical assessments and a reasoned decision, ensuring administrative oversight and transparency.

To streamline procedures, the decree establishes the Strategic Projects Acceleration Unit (SPAU), which will act as a one-stop shop for private promoters. The unit will guide projects throughout the administrative process, coordinating the involvement of different authorities and preventing procedural duplication. Its work will be overseen by the Strategic Projects Acceleration Committee, comprising representatives from the relevant government departments.

The decree also introduces a specific framework for public-sector PSSI projects, enabling faster execution of essential infrastructure such as hospitals, health centres, schools, wastewater treatment plants and water-cycle facilities. Through preferential processing and enhanced inter-administrative coordination, the regulation aims to ensure that key public services and infrastructure are delivered more efficiently.