Moldovan government's deputy secretary general, at annual conference on EU enlargement, says aim of local public administration reform to ensure that quality public services reach every citizen

The local public administration reform does not only mean a new administrative-territorial organization, but, first and foremost, better public services, stronger local authorities and improved living conditions for citizens. Deputy Secretary General of the Government Lilia Dabija has made statements to this effect at the Annual Conference on European Union Enlargement, dedicated to the 2026 Enlargement Package.

During the session, dedicated to local public administration reform, Lilia Dabija referred to the goals of the reform and the changes it is expected to bring to the work of local authorities: “The goal of this reform is not merely a new administrative map, but to ensure that the best services reach every locality, every citizen and every legal entity.”

Deputy Secretary General of the Government Lilia Dabija noted that the two draft laws on local public administration reform, which concern the new administrative-territorial organization and the distribution of responsibilities among authorities, were currently undergoing the endorsement procedure. They were drafted following extensive public consultations, during which thousands of proposals were collected, some of which were incorporated into the draft laws.

At the same time, the deputy secretary general of the government reiterated the State Chancellery’s openness to continuing the dialogue and improving the legislative framework. Following the examination of the proposals received, the drafts will undergo repeated endorsement and expert review before being submitted to the government and, subsequently, to parliament.

The reform’s implementation calendar was also presented, including financial incentives for the voluntary amalgamation process. The first incentive will be granted in 2026, the second is scheduled to be launched in 2027 and the third is planned to begin in 2028, for a period of three years.

During the discussions, Lilia Dabija also referred to the progress made by Moldova in public administration reform, as reflected in the European Commission’s 2026 Enlargement Report. The achievements highlighted include the adoption of the legislative framework on public institutions, which introduces merit-based principles in staff recruitment and uniform rules for remuneration and budget reporting, progress in public finance management, as well as measures to professionalize the civil service and digitalize public services.

The Annual Conference on European Union Enlargement, held on November 9-10, 2026, is dedicated to presenting and discussing the progress made by Moldova as reflected in the European Commission’s 2026 Enlargement Package. The event brings together representatives of national authorities, European institutions, development partners and civil society, in order to analyze reform’s priorities and the next steps in the EU accession process.

The conference is organized by the European Integration Bureau, the Institute for European Policies and Reforms (IPRE) and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES), and brings together two events: the Annual Conference of the European Integration Bureau, now in its second edition, and the European Integration Forum, now at its 12th edition.