Moldovan PM says government to continue to provide local authorities with as many development funds as possible

Improving dialogue between central and local authorities, optimizing the activity of sectoral working groups and support on behalf European partners for local development have been the topics discussed at a meeting of the Joint Commission for Decentralization, chaired by Prime Minister Dorin Recean.

The PM highlighted the openness of European partners, the technical assistance, and financial means provided for the development of Moldova, referring to the reform agenda and financing mechanism provided for in the Growth Plan for  Moldova.

"Our task is to wisely use these resources. We all share the same interest: reforms that grow the local economy and tools that aid development, like the European Village. We will continue to provide local public authorities with as many development funds as possible," said the prime minister.

Dorin Recean encouraged the involvement of mayors in decision-making processes, noting that the mechanism of interaction between central and local authorities must be continuously improved.

In this regard, the participants in the meeting discussed the activity of sectoral working groups, which ensure effective communication on matters of interest. In addition to the seven operational working groups, the participants stressed the need of creating two more groups, in the fields of agriculture and European integration. Also, the proposal to establish a joint working group in the field of local public administration was discussed.

Among the topics tackled at the meeting of the Joint Commission for Decentralization were the delimitation process, including of water basins, providing compensations for electricity to local public authorities, more prominent exposure of local public authorities in public policy documents, ensuring the co-financing capacity of projects implemented from external funds, as well as the need to increase the own revenues of local authorities.

The Joint Commission for Decentralization is a consultative platform which operates at the government and ensures a better correlation of the efforts of central and local authorities for local development. The Commission is made up of  representatives of central and local public administration, who meet in quarterly sessions or as needed, alongside representatives of development partners, working groups and civil society.