The process of voluntary amalgamation of administrative‑territorial units (ATUs) will be simplified and better aligned with the needs of communities. The legislative initiative was approved by Parliament in the first reading, TRIBUNA reports.

The draft law was improved following consultations with mayors and citizens. The new provisions aim to reduce bureaucracy in the voluntary amalgamation process: fewer documents will be required, with a brief justification and a list of the localities involved being sufficient.

At the same time, localities that decide to merge will have greater flexibility in selecting the administrative centre and choosing the name of the amalgamated ATU. The amendments also remove the fixed 25‑kilometre distance limit between localities, making the voluntary amalgamation procedure easier.

Another important aspect concerns the preservation of public services within the locality, including through the Unified Service Delivery Centres (CUPS), so that residents will not need to travel to the town hall in the administrative centre of the amalgamated ATU. The new provisions also bring more clarity for local authorities: no early elections will be held in amalgamated localities before the 2027 local elections.

The goal of the project is to create stronger town halls and more developed localities. So far, two voluntary amalgamation processes have been completed — in the city of Leova and in the commune of Călinești in Fălești district. According to the explanatory note, the number of decisions to initiate voluntary amalgamation has increased, with 298 communities expressing interest.

The legislative initiative will next be examined by Parliament in the second reading.