Sergiu Cornea
Territorial Boundaries—The Final Stage
Kornia emphasizes that current discussions are focused on the territorial dimension of communities, although it would be logical for this to be the final stage. The reform should be based on clarifying terminology and establishing clear goals.
At the same time, he considers population size to be a secondary criterion. “Simply merging two settlements does not guarantee effectiveness. If there is no financial autonomy or administrative capacity, the new entity will inherit the same problems.”
The professor points out that there are small settlements with high administrative capacity and large ones that are unable to attract projects. Therefore, the self-sufficiency of the community is what matters, not population size.
The scholar insists on the need to consult with the population: “The 1996 Regulations and the European Charter of Local Self-Government provide for consultations with citizens—including through referendums—when territorial boundaries are changed. The principle of local autonomy implies that residents themselves make decisions on matters concerning their community.”
Risks of an Ill-Prepared Reform
The professor warns that a hastily implemented reform could lead to a backlash against European integration: “Half of the failed reforms worldwide were primarily due to insufficient preparation and haste. A reform carried out in haste will result in unmet goals.”
In this regard, the academic offers three recommendations for the new government:
- conceptual and terminological clarification of the sphere of local government,
- genuine decentralization, particularly fiscal decentralization, through the redistribution of responsibilities and resources among levels of government,
- and ongoing dialogue with citizens and the academic community to ensure that the reform is understood and accepted.
