Mayor of a commune in Cluj: "European funds have greatly developed local communities"
Jucu commune in Cluj County and the village of Mășcăuți in the Criuleni District are set to sign a twinning agreement in about a month to strengthen cooperation between the two communities and pave the way for joint local development projects. Romania's experience demonstrates the importance of European funds for modernizing rural communities and developing infrastructure, stated Valentin Dorel Pojar, the mayor of Jucu Commune, on the Radio Moldova program "Zi de Zi".
The twinning agreement between Jucu and Mășcăuți is the second partnership of its kind initiated by the commune's administration in Cluj County. Valentin Dorel Pojar noted that Jucu is already twinned with the Târnova commune in the Edineț district, and the process for the new agreement with Mășcăuți has already begun.
The mayor says he has visited the Republic of Moldova several times and has observed changes in the country's infrastructure. At the same time, he said he was impressed by the people and communities he met.
"What impresses me greatly is the industriousness of the people and the cleanliness found everywhere, in every village," declared Valentin Dorel Pojar.
The mayor said that the Republic of Moldova preserves traditions and culinary flavors that, in his opinion, have been lost in certain areas of Romania. He also spoke about the hospitality of the hosts he met during his visit.
European funds have transformed the Jucu commune
Regarding the development of the commune he leads, Valentin Dorel Pojar explained that accessing European funds and attracting investments played a significant role in transforming the locality.
"First and foremost, accessing European funds and the projects we devised have greatly developed our communities," the mayor said.
According to him, about two decades ago, Jucu was a predominantly agricultural community. The development of an industrial park within the commune and the arrival of investors such as Bosch and De'Longhi—as well as Nokia in the initial phase—helped increase the local administration's revenues. Increased revenues enabled the administration to secure the necessary co-financing for projects funded by the European Union. The mayor says the commune now has infrastructure and services that offer residents living conditions comparable to those in urban areas.
"Let me tell you, Jucu is now a modern commune; we have all the utilities. We essentially have urban-style living conditions, I would say," Pojar declared.
He listed the investments made, including the installation of water, gas, and sewage networks, the modernization of road infrastructure, the development of cultural facilities—such as the construction and renovation of community centers—and the creation of sports grounds and facilities.
"So, we are a model commune thanks to the projects we accessed and implemented," the mayor added.
Romanians who went abroad have started to return
In the interview, Valentin Dorel Pojar also discussed migration, an issue rural communities in the Republic of Moldova also face.
He noted that, about 20 years ago, the commune of Jucu also experienced a significant population exodus. Infrastructure was underdeveloped, many roads were unpaved, and some residents left to work abroad.
According to the mayor, economic development and improved living conditions subsequently contributed to the return of some of those who had left. "Many have returned, and now they can find well-paid jobs right here in the commune, or in Romania more generally," he stated. Pojar explained that, for skilled tradespeople, the gap between earnings in Romania and those abroad has narrowed in some cases. At the same time, returning home offers the advantage of being close to family and avoiding the high rental costs found in Western European countries.
"I hope you succeed"
When asked about the Republic of Moldova’s European path and the possibility of the country eventually becoming a European Union member, the mayor of Jucu commune noted that the process could be lengthy, citing Romania’s own experience.
"I hope you succeed in taking this step toward integration, just as we did, but I must tell you: it took years for that step to be taken," stated Valentin Dorel Pojar.
He noted that in Romania, too, European integration followed years of discussion and anticipation, but the process ultimately culminated in the country's accession to the European Union.
The new partnership between the localities of Jucu and Mășcăuți is set to be formalized in about a month. Local authorities aim for the agreement to be more than a formality; they intend it to serve as the foundation for joint projects and the exchange of experience between the two communities on opposite banks of the Prut.
