A Balearic taxi association with a presence in Ibiza is moving forward with its legal challenge against the autonomous community's new taxi and VTC regulation, with the organisation now preparing its formal claim before the High Court of Justice of the Balearic Islands.

The challenge concerns Decree 6/2026, approved by the Balearic Government in February to establish the first comprehensive regional framework regulating taxi and chauffeur-driven vehicle services.

The judicial process has now formally advanced after the Official Gazette published an announcement on September 24 concerning ordinary procedure 222/2026. Interested individuals and organisations have been given nine days to appear before the court.

The provision concerning retiring taxi owners

The association had previously confirmed that its main objection concerned Article 12 of the decree.

This provision regulates the transfer of taxi licences and establishes a maximum period of three months for completing the transfer in certain circumstances, including the retirement or permanent incapacity of an individual licence holder.

The association began the judicial process in May after the Balearic Government did not change the three-month period it had challenged.

The organisation argues that the requirement can create difficulties for taxi licence holders who are approaching retirement and wish to transfer their licence.

These arguments are the association's position and have not been established by a court.

More objections could be added

The association is now preparing the formal claim that will set out its arguments before the TSJIB.

According to the organisation, it is likely that the final claim will include additional issues beyond Article 12.

Those additional objections have not yet been fully specified, so they should not be presented as confirmed grounds of the legal challenge at this stage.

What does the new regulation cover?

Decree 6/2026 establishes the Balearic regulatory framework for both taxi services and vehicles operated with a driver, commonly known as VTCs.

The Balearic Government approved the decree on February 20, describing it as the first comprehensive regional regulation of both sectors, more than a decade after the regional Transport and Sustainable Mobility Law came into force.

The regulation includes provisions covering licensing, operating conditions, vehicle requirements and the relationship between taxi and VTC services.

It also establishes criteria relating to factors such as road congestion and air quality when assessing certain authorisations.

The regulation is already in force

The legal challenge does not suspend the regulation simply because an association has brought proceedings against it.

The Balearic Government's transport department currently lists Decree 6/2026 as the applicable regional regulation for taxi and VTC services.

Among other provisions, the regulation establishes that taxi licences are transferable with prior authorisation from the relevant town hall. It also sets specific time limits for certain transfers, including those arising from retirement.

Wider legal challenges to the decree

The case involving the taxi association is not the only legal challenge involving Decree 6/2026.

Other proceedings have also been brought against different provisions of the regulation, including challenges involving VTC services and the requirements governing digital tools for taxi operators.

Those cases concern different provisions and should not be conflated with the Ibiza-linked challenge over licence transfers.

What happens next?

The immediate next step is for interested parties to appear in the court proceedings within the period established by the TSJIB.

The taxi association will then submit its formal claim setting out the provisions it wants challenged and the legal arguments supporting its position.

Any decision on whether the challenged provisions are lawful will ultimately depend on the judicial process.

For taxi operators in Ibiza, the case could become significant if the association expands its challenge to other parts of the regional regulation, but those additional objections have not yet been formally established.