Two Moldovan villages merge to form new municipality

The villages of Sofia and Miciurin in Moldova's Drochia district have decided to merge into a single local administration to provide more efficient public services and create greater opportunities for development. As part of the process, the new municipality will receive 14.7 million lei (about $870,000) in additional government funding for investments.

Government Secretary General Alexei Buzu said the financial support will be used to implement projects that benefit residents and strengthen the local community, CE Report quotes MOLDPRES.

"Sofia and Miciurin have chosen to move forward together by merging their local administrations to deliver more efficient public services and create new development opportunities. To support this process, the government is providing the new municipality with 14.7 million lei, which can be invested in projects that improve the lives of residents and the community as a whole. Together, localities become stronger, and positive changes can happen more quickly," Buzu said.

According to the latest government data, 773 municipalities across Moldova have officially launched voluntary amalgamation procedures as part of a broader effort to modernize and strengthen local public administration. Of these, 112 localities have already agreed to merge their administrative structures into 24 new municipal centers.

The voluntary amalgamation phase will conclude on July 31, after which the government plans to begin the normative amalgamation stage in August. During the voluntary phase, municipalities are free to choose their merger partners, determine how their administration will be organized, and set local priorities, while the government provides financial incentives to support development.

The reform is part of Moldova's broader effort to modernize public administration and improve the quality and efficiency of local public services. Earlier this year, the government held extensive public consultations before presenting the reform concept.

Parliament has also approved legislative amendments to simplify and improve the voluntary amalgamation process. According to the authorities, the changes were developed following consultations involving more than 4,500 mayors and citizens. To date, more than 400 decisions initiating voluntary amalgamation have been approved nationwide.

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