Municipalities of Soroca (Republic of Moldova) and Iași (Romania) take concrete steps toward establishing an institutional twinning partnership | Cooperation in education, health, and tourism

The municipality of Soroca and the municipality of Iași are advancing toward the establishment of an institutional twinning partnership, following an official working visit held on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, in Iași.

The delegation from the Republic of Moldova included the Mayor of Soroca, Lilia Pilipețchi, and the Secretary of the Soroca Municipal Council, Nicolae Leșan. They held official talks with the Mayor of Iași, Mihai Chirica, focusing on the development of concrete cooperation directions in administrative, economic, and social areas.

Strategic partnership for development and access to external funding

During the discussions, both sides expressed their intention to formalize relations through a twinning agreement aimed at facilitating joint projects in key areas such as urban infrastructure, education, healthcare, and tourism.

A key emphasis was placed on the opportunity to jointly access European non-reimbursable funds and cross-border cooperation programs between Romania and the Republic of Moldova, financial instruments designed to support local development projects with direct community impact.

Cooperation priorities: education, healthcare, and tourism

According to the discussions, the future partnership could enable joint programs for educational exchange between institutions, initiatives in the medical field, as well as the development of integrated tourism routes and projects aimed at highlighting the cultural and historical heritage of both municipalities.

Administrative cooperation could also contribute to improving local public services through the exchange of best practices in urban management and the implementation of EU-funded projects.

Formal initiative for twinning

Following the meeting, the Mayor of Soroca, Lilia Pilipețchi, initiated the procedures necessary for the conclusion of the Twinning and Cooperation Agreement between Soroca and Iași, which will establish the institutional framework for long-term cooperation.

The initiative is considered an important step in strengthening relations between local administrations in Romania and the Republic of Moldova, in a regional context where cross-border partnerships play a key role in economic development and investment attraction.