1. Phd. Adrian Covăsnianu, prof. Liliana-Elena Covăsnianu
Moldavian urban space. From political desideratum to territorial reality
Urban point of view
Phd. Adrian Covăsnianu, prof. Liliana-Elena Covăsnianu
 21th edition of the “Geographic Information Systems” Symposium“, , Iași

2. Motivation
There were some "suspicions" about a series of urban communities (declared recently in late 2004) which do not comply with this statute.
The territorial reality offered the premises to consider declaring certain towns was/is just a political decision.
Moldavian urban space. From political desideratum to territorial reality

3. Methodological issues/Specifications
Analysis period : May - September 2012
Were taken into account all the 55 cities (21 de township and 34 towns) from Western Moldavian space
Information provided are from time period
For some urban communities information can be considered partial because it reflects the image of the city (without constituent settlements / villages) and not of territorial administrative unit.
Moldavian urban space. From political desideratum to territorial reality

4. Metodology
Background -Law 350/2001–P.A.T.N–Sect IV – Network of localities
Were taken into account a series of quantity and quality indicators :
demography
Labor force
Public utilities (housing equipment with water, sewerage and central heating)
Health
Education
Culture and sport
Hotel
Public works (water and sewerage network)
Town management
Civil protection
Recreation (public parks and gardens)
Moldavian urban space. From political desideratum to territorial reality

5. INDtotal (township/town)=SUM(Ind1:Ind16)/16
Metodology
crt.no.
Minimal quantity and quality indicators *
township
town 1
No. of inhabitants
40.000
10.000 2
(medium) no. of employees in non-agricultural activities (% of total employees) 85 75 3
housing equipment with water supply facility ( % of total housing) 80 70 4
housing equipment with sanitation supply facility (% of total housing) 55 5
housing equipment with central heating supply facility (% of total housing) 45 35 6
number of beds in hospitals related to inhabitans 10 7
number of doctors related to inhabitans
2.3
1.8 8
high school/college education units ( e.g. nursing college)
yes/no 9
sports and culture facilities: theaters, musical institutions, public libraries,
stadium, sport halls
places in hotels
100 50 11
modernized roads (% of total street length) 60 12
streets with water distribution networks (% of total street length) 13
streets with sewage pipes networks (% of total street length) 14
wastewater treatment : connection to a wastewater treatment plant with mechanical and biological stage 15
external fire hydrants (for m of street length)
2.8 16
green areas (parks, public gardens, squares) m2/inhabitant
The 16 indicators were interpreted as a percentage of the maximum values ​​required by law 350/2001.
INDtotal (township/town)=SUM(Ind1:Ind16)/16
* - adaptation by law 350/2001
Moldavian urban space. From political desideratum to territorial reality

6. Documentary sources
Were sent 88 addresses (official-via public Law 541/2001 and ) and received 46 responses, resulting in a rate of "responsiveness" of only 52.27%.
Statistical data (2011 census, DJS, INSSE)
Official documents (Development strategies, general urban plans, press releases)
Moldavian urban space. From political desideratum to territorial reality

7. Occurred problems
Difficulty in linking/correlation of data (in terms of time and quality)
Lack of reaction from public authorities (local and county)
Bad intention in terms of providing public information (was called over and over again for the law 544/2001)
Passing responsibilities from local level to county level and vice versa (I.S.U. vs. Regional Operations of Water and Sewerage)
Misunderstanding for some indicators (no. of employees from non-agriculture activities), confusion between locality and territorial administrative unit)
Moldavian urban space. From political desideratum to territorial reality

8. Results
No urban locality from Moldova fulfills in terms of 100 % the minimal quantitative and qualitative indicators according to legislation
Urban localities from Western Moldavia can be considered, therefore, “illegal” from the perspective of not respecting the quantitative and qualitative criteria of urban law.
Moldavian urban space. From political desideratum to territorial reality

9. Results
None of the urban localities from Western Moldova fulfills all the 16 urban indicators:
2 indicators : Berești, Cajvana și Milișăuți
14 indicators : Botoșani, Galați, Iași, Suceava și Buhuși
Moldavian urban space. From political desideratum to territorial reality

10. The global percentage of urban indicators
Results
Minimum:
Milișăuți – 27.26
Flămânzi – 29.95
Cajvana – 35.98
Vicovu de Sus – 38.19
Ștefănești – 38.85
Maximum:
Botoșani – 99.82
Iași – 99.58
Galați – 98.87
Bacău– 95.65
Piatra-Neamț– 94.94
The global percentage of urban indicators
at county level

11. Conclusions
Unfortunately, considering that we worked with statistical data\official information reported by local authorities, county and national, the territorial reality is distorted by the political context of the existence of so many urban centers.
E.g. Vaslui City Hall didn’t want to disclose information about coverage with water, sewerage networks, connection to sewage and service with external fire hydrants for compound localities\"the villages" Bahnari, Brodoc, Moara Grecilor, Rediu and Viișoara, as it would result in a low overall value at territorial administrative unit level.
Moldavian urban space. From political desideratum to territorial reality

12. Conclusions
Even after 7-9 years of existence as urban centers, some cities still do not meet the elementary conditions for which they have been declared
There are localities with no public utilities (water, sewerage, wastewater treatment plant), exterior fire hydrants, sanitarium units and tourists accomodation units
Some localities are in trouble: they can not access European Funds for rural areas because of the declaration as urban localities (a political goal) and funds for urban areas can not be accessed due to the low number of inhabitants
Solutions : L.A.G. (Local Action Group), I.D.A. (Intercommunity Development Association).
Moldavian urban space. From political desideratum to territorial reality

13. Thank you for your attention!