Around 200 mayors from across the country and representatives of the Congress of Local Authorities of Moldova (CALM) took part in an open discussion with the MIDR team, focusing on real problems on the ground and identifying solutions that can be applied promptly or integrated into the ministry’s policies.

Opening the event, Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Bolea reaffirmed the commitment to close cooperation with local public administrations, stressing that today’s meeting is a starting point for decisions, accelerated projects, and clear mechanisms of collaboration and local authorities between the Government.

He emphasized that the country’s development can only be achieved by building together, and cooperation between the Government and local authorities must be practical, not declarative.

“No national strategy is worth anything if it doesn’t work in your village, your town, your community. I ask for sincerity, vision, and courage. We need partners, not spectators. I assure you that MIDR will simplify, accelerate, and take responsibility. It is time to break the circle of bureaucracy that slows down the development of localities. Because the pace at which localities develop will determine how close Europe really is to each citizen.”

CALM representatives appreciated MIDR’s openness to cooperation, noting that trust between the ministry and CALM has grown significantly in recent years. Mayors raised concrete examples and field situations, stressing the need for MIDR to maintain a permanent communication platform with local authorities, where problems are solved quickly before becoming blockages.

Participants were also invited to complete a survey, which identified real needs and proposals for improving local development processes. The results were analyzed in real several priority time, leading to solutions: simplifying and accelerating project implementation processes, increasing local absorption capacity of funds, replicating the “European Courtyard” program in all towns, and introducing a new measure in the “European Village” program focused on building autonomous sewage systems.

At the end, Minister Bolea proposed consolidating a strategic alliance between MIDR and municipalities, responsibility, based on transparency, and measurable results.