Moldova allocates €330 million to fund voluntary municipal mergers

On 6 August 2026, the local council of Ciulucani voted unanimously to merge with the town of Telenești, part of a nationwide voluntary amalgamation programme that will combine eight local administrations serving more than 13,000 residents.

The Moldovan government announced an unprecedented financial package of over 6.5 billion lei (about €330 million) to support municipalities that choose to merge. The funds will be released in three stages – project preparation, investment in new communities, and reorganization costs from 2027 onward – and will target water and sewage networks, road and bridge upgrades, public lighting, school and health‑care renovations, and waste‑management services.

Secretary‑General Alexei Buzu presented the scheme, while Infrastructure Minister Vladimir Bolea outlined priority sectors. President Maia Sandu urged the roughly 160 municipalities where amalgamation talks have stalled to resume negotiations, warning that non‑compliant localities could be merged by law. To date, more than 400 municipalities have approved voluntary mergers, with about 200 in the final procedural stage.