The territorial-administrative division of the Republic of Moldova: between the Soviet past and European aspirations

Abstract

The judicial delimitation of the territory of the state is meant to increase the efficiency of the public authorities’ activity, to enhance their initiative and promptness, to improve the links between the central and local authorities, to provide necessary conditions for people’s participation in and access to local decision making and local public life. In 1998, a territorial-administrative reform was carried out in Moldova. This reform reduced the number of territorial-administrative units of level II from 40 to 10. When the Communist Party of Moldova gained power in 2001, a counter-territorial-administrative reform was prepared and implemented, and through this reform the country returned to the Soviet system of administrative-territorial organization. Returning to territorial delimitation by territorial administrative units of small size by area, economic potential and population, one does not meet the criteria of efficiency and is contrary to European developments in the field. Moldova's European option requires moving the focus to developing local initiative and strengthening regional centers. The existing administrative-territorial structure should be changed. It is clear that the current territorial fragmentation does not contribute to local economic development and does not favor the development of collaborative relationships between central and local authorities.