Republic of Moldova Accelerates Administrative Reform: Taraclia District to Become a Level II Municipality

Taraclia District to Become a Level II Municipality as Part of Administrative-Territorial Reform

Taraclia District is set to be transformed into a Level II municipality as part of the administrative-territorial reform, Secretary General of the Government Alexei Buzu has announced. The new administrative structure will be organized following the model of the municipalities of Chisinau and Balti.

According to the official, the granting of this status is also linked to the region’s ethnic and cultural characteristics, given the significant Bulgarian community living there. The new status is expected to provide local authorities with additional powers, including in the area of cultural programs.

Amalgamation of Local Councils in Taraclia

The transformation of the district into a municipality will also involve the reorganization of local administration. The local authorities within the current district are expected to undergo amalgamation, with some municipalities having already initiated the process voluntarily.

For localities that do not opt for voluntary amalgamation, the central authorities may subsequently apply mandatory amalgamation. Following the reorganization, the municipality of Taraclia is expected to include the city of Taraclia, headed by a general mayor, as well as the localities that will acquire the status of municipal suburbs.

Consultations with the Bulgarian Authorities

Alexei Buzu said that the authorities of the Republic of Moldova have held discussions with representatives of Bulgaria regarding Taraclia’s new administrative status. According to him, the cooperation also covers the development of public service centers, with part of their funding expected to be provided by the Bulgarian Government.

Local Public Administration Reform

Preparations for the local public administration reform were launched by the Government at the end of January. The reform aims to modernize public administration and improve the quality of public services. Subsequently, the authorities held consultations with representatives of local public administration and local communities, based on which the reform concept was developed.

Parliament recently approved amendments aimed at simplifying the voluntary amalgamation process for administrative-territorial units. The amendments were developed following public consultations involving more than 4,500 mayors and citizens.

85% of Local Authorities Have Initiated the Amalgamation Process

Local authorities that have not yet adopted a final decision on voluntary amalgamation still have until the end of August to do so. After the deadline expires, the State Chancellery will be able to initiate the mandatory amalgamation procedure for local authorities that have not reached a decision.

According to data presented by the Secretary General of the Government, the Republic of Moldova has 892 local authorities. Chisinau and Balti are the only municipalities exempt from the amalgamation process.

As of July 31, 2026, out of the 890 local authorities eligible for amalgamation, 761, or approximately 85%, had adopted decisions to initiate the voluntary amalgamation process.