The EU member states are examples worth being followed in promoting local development. There are great success stories in many European countries, where regions that were poor or lagged behind in 10 or 20 years were transformed into prosperous regions through investment in infrastructure, in small peasant farmsteads, in the small industry, in education and culture. What chances the Republic of Moldova has to implement this model in a near future, in what situation the people and communities are and what their source of development is can be found out below in an interview of IPN News Agency with Minister of Regional Development and Construction Vasile Batca, in connection with the recent anniversary of Moldova’s Independence.
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- Mister Minister Vasile Batca, the Republic of Moldova celebrated the 25th anniversary of the declaration of its Independence, but it often seems that Moldova is only Chisinau city as the media, the economy, the political activity, etc. are concentrated here. Why does it happen so and what is done to develop not only Chisinau, but also another two-three large towns, and also all the communities and regions of the Republic of Moldova?
- 25 years of Independence is an important anniversary for us and we celebrated it appropriately. It is important to express or national pride and patriotic spirit. It is important to rejoice together with our people.
As regards the concentration of institutions and activities in Chisinau municipality, this process is not a new one. Chisinau developed constantly during the last few decades, while the declaration of Independence was a simulative factor that increased the importance of the capital city. Chisinau became attractive for the people from districts as it offered more opportunities to young people who came to study, to those looking for a job, to investors looking for skilled labor force. On the other hand, after 1990 we didn’t manage to maintain the economic potential in many villages and in some of the district centers.
However, to ensure a balanced growth of the development regions, in particular of the towns/district centers, in 2012 the Ministry of Regional Development and Construction carried out an analysis entitled “Balanced urban development in the Republic of Moldova”. As a result, there were identified six towns with increased development capacities, which were called ‘pole growth towns’. Today, in concert with the National Bureau of Statistics, we are reviewing this analysis and will then start to work out a town development program.
We also worked out the National Regional Development Strategy for 2016-2020 within which we will implement a series of infrastructure and social services development projects, including economic development (by building the business and development infrastructure) and tourism promotion projects. I want to note that all the regional development projects have the general goal of diminishing regional disparities and are implemented in other regions than the municipality of Chisinau, with special emphasis on rural areas.
- They use to say that the Moldovans are hardworking and hospitable people. You probably travelled to all the communities of Moldova. Is it so or not?
- Yes, it is so and I think will continue to be so. The Moldovans have these qualities. It is yet important to put them to good use. We have yet to think why the level of poverty in a country with hardworking people is higher than in the European states.
At the Ministry, we want to place emphasis on the reinvigoration of the rural environment, either it is about traditional handicrafts, rural tourism promotion or the beauty of our people’s traditions. An increasing number of such projects are financed with the assistance of our development partners. Surely, these values are also emphasized by other planned activities that are carried out with the support of the Ministry of Culture and the local authorities, by multiple festivals and other cultural events with impact. The people already wear the national costume and organize family festivities in a traditional style.
- Who is thus to blame for the fact that many of our villages and towns are neglected – the people, the local administration or the central one?
- I can analyze things as a representative of the Government and as a former representative of the local authorities, as I held the post of deputy mayor and then of head of Nisporeni district. Thus, on the one hand, the state policies haven’t always been designed to have a direct impact on the population. On the other hand, the local authorities are unwilling to unite and implement major projects with a beneficial impact on the population. I can give as example the putting into practice of projects in the area of water and sanitation, when the local authorities tend to implement local projects to the detriment of regional projects that ensure services of a high quality at low costs. Today we have multiple situations when, within the local implemented project, the local authorities are unable to maintain the water and sewerage systems.
The population’s involvement and work in common with the people from all over the country are as important. The communities cannot be developed without the active participation of the people, who can promote multiple innovative ideas, while the authorities of different levels cannot develop the capacities of communities if there is no social will. During the last three years, in the process of strategic planning, we started to adopt an integrated approach so that the objectives set in the national strategies are achieved through the analysis and implementation of local initiatives.
- You probably travelled a lot abroad and visited many places. What development model will you choose for the communities and regions of the Republic of Moldova?
- Each country built the own models, resulting from the daily realities. Therefore, the Republic of Moldova can examine multiple external examples, analyzing the strong points and opportunities provided by particular models, and can avoid the problems met in the countries that implemented the given models. The main elements that are to be taken into account when looking for an optimal model of government are: agrarian character of the state; territorial-administrative organization of the country; decentralization of the existing public services, and innovative capacities. It is also important for what we want to develop to be based on clear rules of game and, surely, on the implementation of modern technologies that are abundant in the current society.
- What should we start with to bring them to such a level?
- Probably, the transparency of actions and public consultation of the identified options are the most important aspects that should be applied. The Republic of Moldova has now a rather developed civil society, whose involvement can bring multiple benefits and an adoption process supported by the whole population. Joint effort is also needed inside the political class. The parties should not adopt hostile and conflict positions when they should think up local development policies. Furthermore, we can thank the development partners that provided consultants at all the institutions of the central administration and also offer technical assistance in working out documents, if need be. They help us so that the public servants not only work out documents of a high quality, but also accumulate rich knowledge based on the experience of the countries of origin of the employed experts.
- A new public administration reformation strategy was recently approved. Can the implementation of this document bring about changes?
- I must say that this document was worked out with the technical assistance of the development partners and was provided for consultations with civil society so that we enjoy the openness and support both of the internal partners and the external ones when we implement it. Ultimately, this document defines and develops the necessary principles and objectives, while the plan of action for implementing these is being designed by the State Chancellery. We set out on a difficult road, but we have the ambition to succeed.
- They have also discussed the territorial-administrative reform for a period. How do you think, what should this envision to ensure a better development of the Moldovan communities?
- I think the success of this reform depends on the local authorities’ capacity to manage things by themselves, based on the own resources, and to secure these resources. It is very important for the decentralization/de-concentration proposals not to come from the upper level only. The local players should not adopt a passive approach in this process.
Certainly, other aspects are also to be taken into account, based on the experience of 1998-1999, when there was implemented another administrative-territorial reform within which the provision of high-quality public services was a big shortcoming. The country’s population at that moment had to cover long distances to obtain particular documents, certificates. Eventually, the impact of these reforms must be a positive one, while the public services must be accessible to the people.
- Given that we recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of the declaration of Independence, can you anticipate how the Moldovan communities will look like in another 25 years?
- I think our fate is irreversibly related to the fate of the large European family. I thus see Moldova in the European Union and consider that this development direction will play a decisive role in the country’s modernization.
I will mention here a very important aspect from the viewpoint of the Ministry I manage – the EU member states are examples worth being followed in promoting local development. There are great success stories in many European countries, where regions that were poor or lagged behind in 10 or 20 years were transformed into prosperous regions through investment in infrastructure, in small peasant farmsteads, in the small industry, in education and culture.
I want to believe that we will also achieve success and this will enable our communities to come closer to the European living standards.
