The National Decentralization Strategy was drafted within a broad participative process and is to be approved by the Government. Before starting to implement it, it is very important to make known decentralization models that were successfully applied in a number of European countries, considers Vaceslav Bulat, head of the Institute for Urban Development, Info-Prim Neo reports. In an international conference centering on decentralization, Veaceslav Bulat said that representatives of the central and local public authorities and experts in decentralization paid fact-finding visits to EU states to familiarize themselves with methods of implementing the decentralization reform. “We will sum up the stated opinions. Experts from Poland, Latvia, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Romania give discourses on decentralization in their countries and the instruments used for ensuring the transfer of powers to the local authorities and of financial resources for fulfilling their duties,” said Veaceslav Bulat. Victor Giosan, independent expert from Romania, who moderated a workshop themed “Financial Decentralization”, said there are many decentralization models, including financial and patrimonial. Political will is needed to implement them and it is important that they meet the realities in Moldova. Decentralization and ensuring of local autonomy represent priorities for the government. Under the draft National Decentralization Strategy, a series of public services in education, social assistance, road infrastructure, environment protection and other areas are to be transferred to the local public authorities together with the financial resources needed to provide them. The National Decentralization Strategy was drafted by the Government with the assistance of UNDP Moldova and UN Women, with financial support from the Government of Sweden within The Joint Integrated Local Development Program, and with support from other development partners. The conference “Models of Decentralization Reform and Development of Local Autonomy” is taking place in Chisinau on December 12-14. The event was organized by Business Consulting Institute in partnership with the Polish foundation PAUCI and Corporate and Public Management Consulting of Latvia, with support from Soros Foundation Moldova and UNDP Moldova.