On September 15, 2022 a group of deputies submitted a legislative initiative regarding the draft Law on Intercommunity Development Associations (IDA) to the Parliament. The draft law was developed with the support of the Congress of Local Authorities from Moldova and is currently examined by relevant parliamentary commissions. The draft law is expected to increase the administrative capacity and institutional quality of local administration. It is accompanied by a set of draft amendments for related laws that would ensure a functional regulatory framework.
In the draft law, IDA is defined as non-profit, non-political association, with the status of a legal entity established by two or more administrative-territorial units for the joint realization of development projects of local or regional interest, or for the joint provision of public services.
From the available draft, the main purpose of the IDAs would be to
- implement development projects of local or regional interest,
- provide community services, and
- manage the infrastructure related to the assigned service.
The law would also allow IDAs to develop public administrative services to compensate for the lack of local capacities in audit, accounting, urban planning, legal assistance, etc.
Local authorities, being the closest to citizens, are responsible for providing a number of major public services for the well-being of local communities. However, the current legal framework lacks clear mechanisms for local authorities to efficiently cooperate and initiate joint development projects. If the law is adopted, through the new nonprofit legal form public authorities will be better equipped to work together and implement local development initiatives and enhance local services.