PM: In our effort to build Europe at home, we need reliable partners at local level

Chisinau, Dec. 9 /MOLDPRES/- Opportunities to modernize the localities of the Republic of Moldova, in the context of the accession process of our country to the European Union were discussed at Mayors' Forum, held in Chisinau, under the auspices of President Maia Sandu. The event - future of local public administration, organized by the government in collaboration with the Congress of Local Authorities of Moldova, brought together representatives of over 700 localities, of which over 580 communes and cities were represented at the mayor level, the government's communication department has reported.

President Maia Sandu pointed out the importance of strengthening the partnership between all levels of public administration, noting that the authorities are taking concrete steps to build a European country, and mayors have a key role in the development of communities, including from the perspective of accessing funds. "Our common goal is to create strong, united communities, to improve living conditions at home and to transform all Moldova, village by village, city by city into a European country, with a life lived in well-being and in good understanding", said Maia Sandu.

Prime Minister Dorin Recean confirmed the government's commitment to a close collaboration with the local public administration, in order to find the most effective solutions and improve the lives of people throughout the country.

"In our effort to build Europe at home, we need reliable partners at the local level, honest, responsible mayors to help us bring prosperity to every home. We will focus together on generating more income at the local level that will help improve the social services provided by the municipalities. Together, we will explain to people the benefits of European integration - they are set in the living and educational conditions, development possibilities for young families, the stimulation of economic activity for entrepreneurs and job creation", said Recean.

He spoke about the priorities set by the government to support the local public administration. According to the prime minister, in response to the head of state's request, the salaries of mayors, vice-mayors and council secretaries will be increased in the coming period and a new call for the European Village program will be launched. "This program is the best example of how we bring Europe to our home: we build roads, street lighting, aqueducts, sewage systems, repair and restore schools and kindergartens," Recean said.

The Forum program included two discussion sessions with representatives of the Executive, the Parliament and experts from the associative environment. The participants talked about the funds for regional development and the existing modernization opportunities for the communities. The representatives of the local public authorities addressed several topics of interest that refer to street lighting, voluntary amalgamation, financial decentralization, road construction, as well as the twinning of towns in the Republic of Moldova with those in Romania, as well as other European countries.