Stronger local administrations for European living standards in communities: European local, regional authorities convene in Moldovan capital

Moldova today hosted the 15th annual meeting of the Conference of Local and Regional Authorities for the Eastern Partnership (CORLEAP), with the participation of representatives of local and regional authorities, European institutions and partner countries.

The meeting focused on combating information manipulation and foreign interference, strengthening the role of local and regional media and improving the public policy-making process locally and regionally.

At the opening of the meeting, Secretary General of the Government Alexei Buzu referred to the role of local elected representatives in strengthening community trust and resilience in the face of information manipulation and foreign interference. “We must not wait for a solution to save us. We need courage and commitment, to always stand by citizens, to discuss and consult with them, including when we have difficult decisions to make. People need to feel that we are fighting for them and for their communities,” said Alexei Buzu.

The secretary general of the government emphasized that the experience of mayors and local elected representatives of Moldova showed how important it is to be close to citizens, understand their needs and maintain constant communication.

“This is the lesson of the local elected representatives of Moldova: we must take responsibility for difficult decisions on behalf of our citizens and communities and stay permanently by their side. This closeness, dialogue and care for the community represent the strongest form of resilience,” said the secretary general of the government.

A separate panel was dedicated to strengthening the public policy-making process at local and regional levels. Discussions focused on using data and factual information in decision-making, developing the skills of public officials and adopting best practices from cities and regions across the European Union. The goal is for local administrations to be able to transform available resources into projects that deliver concrete results for citizens.

During the meeting, the pilot project of the Eastern Partnership Academy for Public Administration at Local and Regional Level (EPAPA) was also launched. The project is aimed at strengthening the capacities of local administrations and facilitating the exchange of experience between authorities of the European Union and the ones of the Eastern Partnership countries.

CORLEAP is a cooperation platform bringing together local and regional authorities from the European Union and the Eastern Partnership countries. It facilitates the exchange of best practices and the development of partnerships that contribute to more effective administrations and more resilient communities.