Interim report on voluntary amalgamation in Moldova: first two territorial clusters successfully complete process

October 24, 2025, Chișinău – The first two territorial clusters – Leova, Sîrma, Sărata-Răzeși, Tochile-Răducani, and Călinești, Chetriș, Hancesti – have successfully completed all stages of the voluntary amalgamation process. Another 68 clusters from different regions of Moldova are in advanced stages of consultation and planning.

This information is included in the Interim Report on the Voluntary Amalgamation of Local public Authorities for the period December 2023 – September 2025, published by the State Chancellery of Moldova.

The report shows that Moldova continues to face a high degree of administrative fragmentation, with 893 level I administrative and territorial units existing at present. Among them, over 56 per cent have less than 1,500 inhabitants, the minimum threshold provided by legislation. The small size of many administrative and territorial units limits their capacity to provide quality public services, attract investments and ensure efficient administration.

Reforming local public administration stays a national strategic priority, and voluntary amalgamation is a sustainable solution for strengthening local capacities. It constitutes one of the key directions stipulated in the Public Administration Reform Strategy 2023–2030.

The amalgamation process involves a gradual approach, which includes: developing a common vision, consulting citizens, adopting local decisions, getting institutional approvals and organizing elections in the new administrative and territorial units.

The years 2025–2026 present a favorable opportunity to initiate the voluntary amalgamation process under advantageous conditions, with technical assistance and financial support on behalf of development partners.

Interested local public authorities are encouraged to initiate dialogue with citizens and contact the State Chancellery for assistance in the preparation process. So far, the reform and processes conducted locally have been supported through a collaborative effort with technical, institutional and financial involvement, aimed at supporting local public authorities in the process of consolidation and modernization.

The process’ coordination is ensured by the State Chancellery of Moldova, in collaboration with development partners: ADEPT Association, GIZ Moldova, the MĂ IMPLIC (I Get Involved) project and the government of Switzerland, as well as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Moldova.