Based in government offices in Palma

Balearic Government sets up European Citizens´ department

director. Kate Mentink on one of her previous visits to the island

The department will deal with queries from the estimated 125,000 Europeans (of non-Spanish descent) who have made their home in the Balearic Islands

C.M.W..Maó

Anew department is currently being set up within the Balearic Government, the European Citizens´ Department. With an office in the government buildings in Palma, the new department is headed by Kate Mentink, Director, who was formerly connected with the now disbanded Office of European Citizens.

The main objective of the new scheme is to provide "assistance to all those Europeans who have chosen to make their home in the Balearic Islands". Many newcomers to the islands find certain situations bewildering, especially if they are unable to speak Spanish or Catalan. The new department aims to "make life easier" by offering "services, advice and a friendly face or telephone voice" to point people in the right direction and help in such cases. It will also inform citizens about their obligations and rights as residents in Spain and help them to integrate and enjoy the social and cultural life around them.

It is estimated that there are 125,000 Europeans (of non-Spanish descent) resident in the Balearic Islands, only 70,000 of whom are registered with their local Town Hall. Part of the department´s work will be to inform people of the many benefits to be gained by registering on the "padron", including travel discounts and the right to vote in municipal and European Parliamentary elections.

The department is now approaching all the Town Halls in the Balearics with a view to setting up an office in each, to be manned by someone who can speak English, and in some districts German, and can provide answers to questions raised by the European citizens in the municipality. These offices will work directly with the European Citizens´ Department and will benefit from the accumulated experience and knowledge of the staff in Palma and their contacts with other Government departments. To date offices of this kind have been set up in the Town Halls in Llucmajor and Felanitx and another will open this week in Pollença, followed by Ses Salines and Soller.

Last Friday, Kate Mentink visited Menorca, accompanied by a member of her team, Angela Guerrero, on a fact-finding trip to ascertain the needs of European residents on this island. After talking to the Consuls she met representatives of the various organisations and associations for discussions on the subject.

Future visits will be aimed at persuading each of the island´s Councils to set up an office for European Citizens in its Town Hall to deal with the growing number of EU immigrants.