The changes were developed following a public consultation in which more than 4,500 mayors and citizens participated, according to the government’s website.
The new provisions reduce bureaucracy and simplify procedures. A brief justification and a list of localities willing to merge will be enough to initiate the process. Thanks to this, local authorities will be able to speed up the merger process.
At the same time, communities will have more freedom in decision-making. The mayoralties that decide to merge will be able to determine by mutual agreement where the administrative center will be located. This will be decided by a joint working group depending on local specifics and interests.
Some of the restrictions that have hitherto hampered the process, such as the 25 km distance limit between localities, will also be abolished.
In addition, the new rules provide more clarity on the calendar of the process. No new elections will be held in the merged localities until the local elections in 2027.
Through these changes, the Government intends to accelerate the voluntary amalgamation process and promote the development of stronger communities capable of providing better public services.
So far, two voluntary amalgamation processes have been completed – in the city of Leova and the municipality of Calinesht. The first group includes the city of Leova and the villages of Sirma, Toquile-Reducani and Serata-Razes, and the second group includes the village of Călinesti, the commune of Ketris and the village of Hincesti, Făleşti district.
In addition, the number of decisions to initiate voluntary unification of mayoralties has tripled since the beginning of the year, 208 such decisions have already been adopted.
