FERM 2025 | Ana NEDELCU, Cahul City Hall: “Cross-border cooperation is not a publicity exercise, but a real tool for development for our communities”
100 economic opportunities for the development of the Moldova Region on the A7 Highway route
REGIONAL ECONOMIC FORUM MOLDOVA 2025
19th Edition – Vatra Dornei, July 9–13, 2025
Thematic Panel:
Regional and International Cooperation – Partnerships for Development
Speaker:
Ana Nedelcu – Manager of the Project Management Center, Cahul City Hall
Presentation Topic:
“Institutional Cooperation between Local Public Authorities in the Republic of Moldova and the Moldova Region of Romania”
Ana Nedelcu, Manager of the Project Management Center at Cahul City Hall, delivered a well-received presentation within Panel 11 – Regional and International Cooperation – Partnerships for Development. She highlighted concrete models of partnership, solidarity, and efficiency between cities in the two Romanian-speaking states.
A Multi-Layered Cooperation Model between Cahul and Cities in the Moldova Region (Romania)
Ana Nedelcu highlighted the municipalities of Cahul and Ungheni as representative examples of best practices in regional cooperation, previously selected for strategic programs due to their advantageous geographical location and demonstrated administrative capacity.
“When Cahul is mentioned, people ask what we have accomplished, just as they ask about Ungheni. We are on the same trajectory and share the same team spirit and performance ethos.”
International cooperation was structured around four main dimensions, reflecting a strategic, gradual, and sustainable approach:
1. Socio-Cultural and Educational Dimension
Cahul developed partnerships with cities such as Iași, Galați, and Vaslui, focusing on collaboration in education, culture, and youth initiatives. Collaboration within the “Youth Capital” program, where Cahul held the title in 2024 and Vaslui in 2025, strengthened bilateral relations and promoted youth mobility and intercultural exchanges.
2. Cultural and Civic Cooperation
A key component of cross-border partnerships was the development of projects with heritage and commemorative significance. For example, in collaboration with Galați Municipality, a monument dedicated to the victims of Stalinist deportations was erected, a complex project requiring three years of implementation due to cultural heritage considerations.
3. Investments in Infrastructure and Urban Regeneration
A concrete example of support is Constanța Municipality, which provided a €100,000 donation for the construction of a sports field in an underprivileged neighborhood in Cahul, part of the urban revitalization area. This investment represented the initial phase of a larger project, later funded through the National Program “European Village”, contributing to the modernization of public infrastructure in a marginalized area.
4. Strategic Projects and Regional Infrastructure
Cahul plays an active role in cross-border projects with an impact on the region, in partnership with localities such as Tecuci, Iași and Oancea Commune, located near the border checkpoint. A flagship project, funded through a European program, focused on urban mobility development and included:
- over 6 kilometers of modernized roads,
- bike lanes,
- and the preparation of a Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan by international CIVITAS experts.
“The CIVITAS experts knew our streets better than the citizens of Cahul District. It was a European-level planning and expertise exercise.”
This plan provides a strategic foundation for attracting new funds and improving urban transport, a sector in continuous local development.
Systemic Challenges and New Strategic Development Perspectives
During the dialogue with President Ion Ștefanovici (CAPDR), Ana Nedelcu addressed one of the most persistent challenges facing local administrations in southern Moldova: the shortage of qualified human resources in regional development institutions. Referring to collaboration with the South Regional Development Agency (ADR Sud), she stated:
“Sometimes it feels like we are taking on tasks that, in theory, should be managed by the ADR. There is a real capacity deficit, particularly due to the exodus of specialists who leave and do not return.”
This observation highlights a structural vulnerability that affects the region’s ability to efficiently implement European projects and sustain long-term strategic planning processes.
At the same time, discussions within the panel also highlighted geo-economic opportunities for Cahul Municipality. A central point was Giurgiulești Port – a logistical infrastructure of major importance for the Republic of Moldova – and the navigability potential of the Prut River, which could transform the area into a regional economic artery.
President Ion Ștefanovici conveyed a clear message to Cahul’s local administration, encouraging an integrated approach to development:
“Do not limit yourselves to urban projects. Think strategically, in terms of regional economy and cross-border connectivity. A period with many challenges, but also enormous investment potential, lies ahead. You must be present, active, and prepared.”
In this context, Cahul’s geographical location – close to Romania’s maritime and river ports, as well as at the intersection of regional transport axes – can become a competitive advantage in attracting funds for logistic infrastructure, industrial development, and tourism.
Conclusions:
Cahul Municipality’s participation in the Regional Economic Forum Moldova 2025 reconfirmed the active and strategic role that the local administration plays in strengthening cross-border relations between the Republic of Moldova and the Moldova Region. The projects and initiatives presented highlighted a functional model of institutional cooperation, based on concrete partnerships, rigorous planning, and a coherent vision for local and regional development.
Through the diversity of sectors addressed – from education, culture, and youth, to urban mobility, infrastructure, and memorial tourism – Cahul demonstrates a strong capacity to attract and manage external funds, as well as a genuine openness to administrative innovation and international collaboration. Investments already made, along with ongoing projects, directly contribute to improving citizens’ quality of life and strengthening the municipality’s position as a regional development hub.
Thus, Cahul becomes a benchmark for best practices in the region, highlighting the real potential of cross-border cooperation as a driver of sustainable development and European integration at the local level.
