“The new law on the unification of villages in Moldova: What it means and how it works”
The decree and the law on voluntary unification of administrative territories were promulgated today. These regulations will come into force in three months. The new law was created in order to strengthen the administrative power of local governments and to provide quality public services to the population.
According to this law, two or more rural territories will be able to merge voluntarily if certain conditions are met. The total area of the merged villages must be continuous and have a population of at least 3,000, and the distance from the new administrative center to any of its parts must not exceed 25 kilometers.
Criteria for selecting a new administrative center include demographics, financial sustainability per capita, and ability to provide public services.
The unification process starts with the decisions of the local councils of the first level administrative territories. Central government bodies will provide information, organizational, methodological and financial support to the process.
A Voluntary Unification Fund will also be created, which will provide funding for the preparation of the unification process, development of infrastructure and support for the budgets of the new entities.
The Moldovan Government will develop the methodology for unification, ensure the development of normative acts and prepare the necessary operations and processes for the successful implementation of this new law in the next three months.
