Republic of Moldova and European Committee of Regions strengthen cooperation for stronger communities prepared for EU accession

Local public administration reform, strengthening the capacity of city halls and preparing communities to harness the opportunities offered by accession to the European Union were the focus of the first meeting of the Joint Consultative Committee between the Republic of Moldova and the European Committee of the Regions, held today in Chișinău.

The opening of the meeting was attended by President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu, Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Cristina Gherasimov, Government Secretary-General Alexei Buzu, as well as representatives of the Government, the European Committee of the Regions, local and regional public authorities and development partners.

Maia Sandu emphasized that strong local authorities with efficient teams, sufficient resources and necessary tools are essential for community development and for transforming the opportunities offered by European integration into concrete improvement for citizens. “We are not carrying out the reform for the sake of reform. We are doing it to achieve results that will give people confidence in both the present and the future of the communities where they live or where we want them to return,” Maia Sandu said.

The head of state praised the efforts of mayors and local representatives involved in the voluntary merger process and reiterated her commitment to supporting the development of localities so that resources can be directed toward their priorities—access to water and sewerage, better roads and higher-quality public services.

Strengthening the capacity of local administrations is also essential for harnessing the opportunities offered by accession to the European Union. Currently, more than 192 projects are being implemented through five European programs, worth nearly €41 million, with 79 local public authorities as direct beneficiaries.

During the session dedicated to the European Union accession process, Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Cristina Gherasimov highlighted the important role of local authorities in preparing the Republic of Moldova to become an EU member state. “For citizens, European integration will be measured by what changes in their communities: public service quality, better roads and transport, cleaner water, improved waste management, more digital services, new opportunities for businesses and jobs, and ultimately, a better quality of life. Local authorities are not simply beneficiaries of European integration. They are actors in the accession process,” Gherasimov noted.

An important part of the meeting was dedicated to local public administration reform. Alexei Buzu said that 561 city halls or 63% of the total have already adopted final decisions on voluntary amalgamation, while the next stage will focus on strengthening the new administrations, including through integrated and digitalized services, qualified personnel, and a greater capacity to attract investment and European funds.

“The purpose of the reform is for city halls to become stronger, capable of attracting resources, developing new projects, and implementing them. Everything we do starts from the interests of citizens. We must have the courage to engage in difficult discussions, go into communities, and explain this reform to people,” Buzu said.

The Government will continue to support communities in the process of strengthening their administrations through financial incentives and measures to enhance administrative capacity, so that the new city halls can become development centers for their communities.

Participants also discussed the experience of EU member states and other partner countries in public administration reform, as well as solutions that could be applied in the Republic of Moldova to strengthen local democracy and the administrative and financial capacity of local public authorities.

The Joint Consultative Committee between the Republic of Moldova and the European Committee of the Regions creates a permanent framework for dialogue and cooperation between local and regional authorities in the Republic of Moldova and those in the EU. The platform will facilitate the exchange of experience and best practices, contribute to strengthening the capacity of local administrations to implement European policies, and ensure that the Moldovan communities' voice is represented in the European dialogue.