Without the voluntary amalgamation process of communities, small villages risk not attracting significant investments and not developing the necessary infrastructure for modern public services. This is stated by mayors who have already initiated the process. According to them, only by unifying resources, population, and administrative capacities can they access projects worth tens of millions and attract investors who create jobs. The subject was discussed within a press club organized by the Association for Participatory Democracy ADEPT, reports IPN.
The Deputy Mayor of Sculeni commune, from Ungheni district, Valeriu Antonov, stated that the locality applied for a project to build a sewage system worth 60 million lei, but it was not selected due to the small size of the community.
“We are too small a community for large-scale investments. It is necessary for us to grow and develop, to reach urban standards even in a rural environment. With a thousand or two thousand inhabitants, we cannot implement projects designed for five or ten thousand people,” explained Valeriu Antonov.
And the mayor of Telita commune in Anenii Noi district, Rodica Rusu, sees the amalgamation of localities as a viable solution for economic development. According to her, communities cannot permanently depend on funds allocated by central authorities and need to strengthen their own economic base. The unification of localities would bring a larger workforce and increased administrative capacity, essential factors for attracting investors.
Local authority representatives draw attention to the fact that, in small communities, administrative costs are higher relative to the number of inhabitants. Conversely, public services become more efficient and sustainable when a larger number of users are connected to the same networks and infrastructures.
According to ADEPT, in 2025 the process of voluntary amalgamation involved 370 municipalities from across the country. 83 potential unification clusters were identified, two of which have already been completed.
The event was organized within the framework of the project “Strengthening the capacities of local public authorities and supporting dialogue in the public administration reform process”, implemented by the ADEPT Association, with financial support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Republic of Moldova.
