The Mayor of Ștefănești (RO), Florin BUȚURA, in the context of the launch of the CAPDR Cross-Border Cooperation Center – Ștefănești: “At this moment, we have two major projects.”
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On January 30, 2026, at the Ștefănești Town Hall, Botoșani County, the Romania – Republic of Moldova – Ukraine Working Meeting took place, an event dedicated to strengthening cross-border cooperation and the role of public administration in the development and implementation of regional development strategies. In this context, the CAPDR Cross-Border Cooperation Center – Ștefănești was also launched.
The meeting was organized by the Center for Analysis and Planning of Regional Development (CAPDR), in partnership with ADR Chișinău, and was hosted by the Ștefănești Town Hall.
The event brought together approximately 60 representatives from local public administrations and institutions from the suburbs of Chișinău, the Northern Region of the Republic of Moldova, Botoșani, Suceava, and Iași counties, as well as from the cross-border cooperation eligibility area in Ukraine.
Thematic Framework and Meeting Objectives
The meeting agenda focused on the theme “The Role of Public Administration in the Development and Implementation of Strategies”, within the context of the Interreg NEXT Romania – Republic of Moldova 2021–2027 Project, implemented by CAPDR and ADR Chișinău.
The project component aimed to create an institutional framework for dialogue and practical cooperation between public authorities, associative organizations, and experts from Romania and the Republic of Moldova, with an emphasis on regional development and cross-border cooperation.
During the meeting, the concept “From Dialogue to Action” was also presented through the introduction of the CAPDR Cross-Border Cooperation Center – Ștefănești. Topics addressed included the establishment of the center, its membership structure, current activities, projects developed by its members, as well as its role in national and international representation.
After the working session, the agenda continued with a visit to the future headquarters of the CAPDR Cross-Border Cooperation Center – Ștefănești, along with an institutional networking session hosted at the “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University base in Ștefănești. This stage was dedicated to strengthening the RO–MD–UA network, identifying joint projects, exchanging contacts, and shaping cooperation prospects within thematic working groups.
Ștefănești Mayor, Florin BUȚURA: “Ștefănești currently has two major projects”
During the launch session of the CAPDR Cross-Border Cooperation Center – Ștefănești, Mayor Florin BUȚURA highlighted the city’s concrete commitments in the field of cross-border cooperation and how local initiatives integrate into regional projects.
He specified:
“Ștefănești currently has two major projects: with the town of Sofia, Moldova, involving machinery, a backhoe loader, and a street sweeper. We also have projects with Râșcani, Drochia, and Soroca, involving three electric minibuses that will operate from Ștefănești to the mentioned localities… We have already provided clarifications and are awaiting the acquisition of these machinery and electric minibuses.”
This statement illustrates how the Cross-Border Cooperation Center becomes a practical tool, not just a dialogue framework. The projects mentioned by the mayor highlight two strategic directions:
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Infrastructure Development and Sustainable Mobility – through the acquisition of specialized machinery and electric minibuses, the town of Ștefănești contributes to the modernization of public services and efficient connectivity with partner communities in the Republic of Moldova.
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Strengthening Cross-Border Links – through partnerships with localities such as Sofia, Râșcani, Drochia, and Soroca, the projects facilitate experience exchange and direct cooperation between local administrations, transforming the initial dialogue into concrete actions with visible impact on the communities.
Through these projects, the Center becomes a driver of regional development, demonstrating that collaboration between local authorities in Romania and the Republic of Moldova can generate tangible benefits for citizens and the region’s shared infrastructure.
Conclusion
The launch of the CAPDR Cross-Border Cooperation Center – Ștefănești and the presentation of the city’s concrete projects underline the importance of transforming cross-border dialogue into action. Local initiatives, such as the acquisition of machinery and electric minibuses for collaboration with communities in the Republic of Moldova, demonstrate that regional partnerships do not remain theoretical but generate tangible benefits for citizens, infrastructure, and mobility.
The event in Ștefănești confirms the role of public administrations as active actors in regional development and in strengthening Romania – Republic of Moldova – Ukraine cooperation, and the Cross-Border Cooperation Center emerges as a practical and strategic tool, capable of turning ideas into real, sustainable projects for the communities involved.
