Message from Mayor Elena Luminița LIPȘA (Ipatele, Iași) at the launch event of the Interreg | CAPDR🇷🇴 – ADR Chișinău🇲🇩 project at the Palace of the Republic in Chișinău, 11.09.2025
Mesaje publice
Thursday, September 11, 2025 – The Palace of the Republic in Chișinău hosted the launch conference of the project “Transfer of Good Practices and Strengthening Administrative Capacity in Regional Development Policy between Romania and the Republic of Moldova,” funded by the Interreg NEXT Romania – Republic of Moldova Program.
The event, organized in partnership between the Center for Analysis and Planning of Regional Development (CAPDR) and the Regional Development Agency of Chișinău (ADR Chișinău), brought together representatives of public administration, regional development experts, and decision-makers from both countries.
Speaker – Elena Luminița LIPȘA – Mayor of Ipatele Commune, Iași, Romania
Developing a Small Commune with a Big Vision
Elena Luminița Lipșa from Ipatele emphasized her determination to transform a locality 50 km from Iași into an attractive space for residents and investors.
“I have always wanted to make something small much bigger and more beautiful. Even though we are 50 km from the city of Iași, we want to develop everything possible that can bring added value to the community I am part of.”
A major objective of her administration is creating conditions for young people to remain in the locality, thus preventing external migration.
“I really want all the young people in my commune to stay and not go abroad. That’s why I have contacted several developers who showed interest.”
Concrete Projects for the Community
The mayor mentioned investments made through European and government funding:
- 14 km of sewer network currently under construction;
- 10.5 km of paved roads;
- expansion of the water network, increasing beneficiaries from 100 to 700;
- project for introducing natural gas, with two offers submitted for tender.
“At first everyone is skeptical because they think about the money they have. But you see that initially there were 100 applicants for water, and now we are at 700. The network can no longer keep up. The same will happen with gas.”
The mayor also spoke about the construction of a sports hall, currently temporarily blocked, and the initiative of a cross-border partnership with Mereni Commune in the Republic of Moldova, which aims to acquire equipment needed for managing emergency situations.
Cooperation and Learning from Good Practices
In her speech, Elena Luminița Lipșa emphasized the importance of participating in forums and conferences dedicated to regional development, where she has the opportunity to learn from the experience of other local administrations.
“I sincerely want, from the experience of many, to attract and absorb everything good they have brought to their communities. I hope from the bottom of my heart that we will establish as many partnerships and even twinnings as possible, because together we all have time to learn.”
Conclusion
The participation of Ipatele Commune Mayor, Elena Luminița Lipșa, at the CAPDR–ADR Chișinău conference highlighted the importance of active involvement of local authorities in cross-border cooperation processes. By presenting ongoing projects and planned initiatives, it demonstrated how a small local administration can leverage funding opportunities and build a coherent development strategy.
Efforts regarding basic infrastructure, diversification of public utilities, and attracting private investments show an approach oriented towards sustainability and improving quality of life in the community. At the same time, openness to cross-border partnerships and exchange of good practices contributes to consolidating a common learning framework and integrating modern standards of local governance.
Thus, Elena Luminița Lipșa’s intervention represents a relevant example of local leadership, where development vision, access to available resources, and regional collaboration complement each other to create the premises for sustainable progress.
