Romania’s acting PM expected in Chisinau to attend Strong Mayoralties – Developed Settlements event

Romania’s acting Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan is expected to pay a visit to Chisinau today, to take part in the Strong Mayoralties – Developed Settlements event, organized on the Great National Assembly Square (PMAN).

According to the agenda of the visit by Romania’s acting Prime Minister to Chisinau, announced by the government of Romania, at 9:30, Ilie Bolojan will have a meeting with the Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu, followed at 10:00 by participation in the event, Strong Mayoralties – Developed Settlements.

Later, at 11:00, Ilie Bolojan will have a meeting with President Maia Sandu. The agenda will continue with visits to the new headquarters of the Stauceni mayoralty  and to the Stauceni Cultural Educational Center, a local development project implemented with the support of Romania’s government.

At 14:35, Bolojan, together with the Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu will be at the Alliance Française of Moldova/French Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Moldova, after which the Romanian official will go, at 15:10, to the Serghei Lunchevici National Philharmonic.

The Strong Mayoralties – Developed Settlements event, organized on PMAN, will bring together over 400 mayors from localities that have initiated the voluntary amalgamation process, district heads, members of professional organizations, as well as external partners. It is dedicated to the reform of local public administration and the strengthening of administrative capacity.

According to the organizers, discussions will focus on how the authorities plan to build strong municipalities, capable of attracting external funds, implementing major projects and providing good services to citizens.

President Maia Sandu, Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu, Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu and Romania’s acting Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan will take part in the event.

The organization of the event was announced by Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu at the beginning of cabinet meeting on May 27. The official expressed confidence that the activity held in PMAN would send a clear message that “the reform of local public administration means better services, larger investments and stronger communities”.

In late last January, the government officially announced the launch of the preparation process for the local public administration reform, as part of efforts to modernize the administration and improve the quality of public services provided to the population. Subsequently, broad consultations on the reform were held with all interested sides, after which the government presented the reform concept.

According to the most recent data presented by the authorities, 663 decisions have been adopted so far to initiate the amalgamation process, covering 767 municipalities and accounting for about 86 per cent of all mayoralties of Moldova.