Downgrading small towns would reduce Romania’s access to European funds, warns a mayor from Maramureș

The territorial reorganization plan supported by PSD MEP Dragoș Benea has sparked strong reactions in Maramureș. Vladimir Petruț, mayor of the town of Cavnic and vice president of the Association of Towns in Romania, warns that abolishing small towns and downgrading them to commune status could reduce Romania’s access to European funds and fuel social tensions.

In an interview with DC News, the mayor argues that the next European financial framework will favor investment in urban areas. In his view, reducing the share of the urban population by turning more towns into communes could affect eligibility for funding. Petruț describes the project as potential “self-sabotage” and says that Maramureș cannot be administratively absorbed by Cluj without sparking a revolt among local communities.

The mayor says the reform should be decided after consultations in each county, based on economic, cultural, and historical criteria. He proposes merging some communes with towns that already have public services and infrastructure, in order to create stronger administrative units.

Petruț maintains that the town of Cavnic is financially stable and has tourism potential, which is why downgrading it would be unjustified. He calls for a gradual reorganization that also takes into account the aging rural population, for whom access to administrative services could become more difficult.