On September 11, at the Palace of the Republic in Chișinău, the launch of the project “Transfer of Best Practices and Strengthening Administrative Capacity in Regional Development Policy between Romania and the Republic of Moldova” took place, marking a key moment in the dynamics of cross-border cooperation between the two states.

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The event brought together representatives of public administration, regional development experts, and decision-makers, emphasizing the importance of experience sharing and institutional strengthening for the modernization of development policies.

Speaker – Ion ȘTEFANOVICI – President of CAPDR, Romania

Ion Ștefanovici: “The Prut does not divide us”

At the opening of the conference, Ion Ștefanovici, President of the Center for Regional Development Analysis and Planning (CAPDR), delivered a powerful message about unity and solidarity that should define the relations between Romania and the Republic of Moldova.

“I could never truly embrace the term cross-border with an open heart. Every time I cross the border, I close my eyes and wish there were no barriers, but rather a natural flow between the two banks of the Prut, to move freely, as is natural between brothers.”

At the same time, President Ștefanovici emphasized that the Prut, far from being a line of separation, remains a connecting element between communities.

“For us, the Prut does not divide. It is a river I dearly love, as I grew up on its banks, in the Prut Meadow. It flows as a symbolic bridge between the two regions of Moldova – the one in Romania and the one in the Republic of Moldova.”

An extended framework of partnerships and collaborations

The project brings together local and central public administrations, private companies, non-governmental organizations, and specialists with direct expertise in the field of regional development. The agenda includes 21 interventions delivered by representatives from Romania and the Republic of Moldova – from local administrations along the Prut, to district councils and municipalities in border areas such as Ștefănești and Ungheni.

“Through this format we aim to strengthen extended regional cooperation, in a structured and strategic framework. This is our first cross-border cooperation project, but it is part of a broader series of initiatives already shaped, for which we only need to identify funding sources.”

Ion ȘTEFANOVICI – INVITATION to participate in the Opening Conference of the cross-border project CAPDR – ADR Chișinău

“Via Moldavia” and tourism bridges to the future

Ion Ștefanovici also highlighted tourism cooperation initiatives, mentioning the “Via Moldavia” project, which connects Vatra Dornei to the Dniester and creates a joint route for promoting cultural and natural heritage.

“We have joint projects which, for example, unite us in a tourism cooperation formula from the mountains of Vatra Dornei all the way to the Dniester.”

An open collaboration towards Europe

The partnership between CAPDR and the Regional Development Agency (ADR) Chișinău goes beyond the local framework and involves expertise from other development regions of Romania. The project also involves specialists from ADR Bucharest–Ilfov and ADR North-West (Cluj), bringing together under one umbrella the knowledge and experience of the best professionals in the field.

“This is not just about the region of Moldova. In this project, experts are also invited from ADR Bucharest–Ilfov, as well as from Cluj, so that we can bring together under the same umbrella the best of the best.”

LIVE | Launch Conference of the project “Best Practices and Knowledge Transfer for Strengthening Administrative Capacity between Romania and the Republic of Moldova”

Conclusions: a step towards modern territorial governance

The event in Chișinău marked the beginning of a new stage in cross-border cooperation, aiming to strengthen institutional capacity, consolidate partnerships, and adapt European mechanisms of territorial governance to the regional realities of Romania and the Republic of Moldova.

Ion Ștefanovici, President of CAPDR, emphasized the importance of this project as a strategic tool for bringing communities on both banks of the Prut closer, underlining that regional development is not only an administrative policy but also a process of building sustainable partnerships and fostering European integration.