On 9–11 September, representatives of Ukrainian local government associations made a working visit to Chișinău. The delegation included representatives of the All-Ukrainian Association of Amalgamated Territorial Communities, the All-Ukrainian Association of Communities, the Association of Amalgamated Territorial Communities of Bukovyna, and the Vinnytsia Regional Association of Local Self-Government Bodies, as well as experts from the Cities4Cities initiative and the Polaris Programme.

Moldova began the EU accession process in parallel with Ukraine and was granted candidate status in June 2022. Both countries are conducting negotiations across six clusters.

The delegation took part in a conference on the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC), organised by SALAR International as part of the PACE Local project. Participants discussed the experience of different countries, practical aspects of establishing an EGTC, and opportunities to use this mechanism to implement joint projects and attract funding.

During a meeting with Moldova’s Bureau for European Integration and its head, Ghenadie Marian, the Ukrainian delegation learned more about how local government is involved in the European integration process. The Bureau for European Integration is a specialised structural unit within the Government’s State Chancellery, established in November 2023 to coordinate the negotiations and the country’s accession to the European Union.

A separate part of the visit focused on the work of Moldova’s local government associations. For a long time, local authorities were represented at the national level solely by the Congress of Local Authorities from Moldova (CALM), established in 2010 and now comprising more than 800 local government bodies. Later, as the administrative-territorial reform progressed, the Centre for European Local Administration (CALE) emerged. CALE recently launched a dedicated platform on European integration. CALM also operates an Electronic Platform for Local Government, which has been adapted in the context of Moldova’s European integration to provide professional training, develop international cooperation and offer expert support to local authorities.

During a meeting with the head of CALE, the two sides discussed decentralisation processes, including fiscal decentralisation, and mechanisms for consultation between local government associations and the Government. At the meeting with CALM, the association’s representatives described their participation in EU integration working groups, including discussions on the Growth Plan and coordination with the Government.

In Moldova, representatives of local authorities can participate in thematic working groups on European integration and specific negotiating areas, while local government associations are represented at the coordination level. There is also a Parity Commission composed of equal numbers of representatives of local and central government.

Another meeting was held with Vitalie Jereghi, Executive Director of the National LEADER Network. In Moldova, LEADER has progressed from pilot initiatives to a dedicated legislative framework and state funding.

Following the visit, the parties identified several potential areas for further cooperation: partnerships between local authorities in Ukraine and Moldova, a study visit by CALE representatives to Odesa Oblast, and joint projects, including through Interreg Moldova–Ukraine.

For Ukraine and Moldova, which are advancing in parallel towards EU membership, preparing the local level for future obligations, funding opportunities and joint projects is one of their shared practical tasks.