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Armenia is set to continue its territorial administration reform with a new round of municipal consolidation, under which the number of communities will be reduced from 70 to 64, aiming to strengthen local governance and manage resources more effectively.
Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Davit Khudatyan briefed lawmakers on proposed amendments to the Law on the Administrative-Territorial Division.
The minister said the bill proposes continuing the process of community consolidation in three provinces: Lori, Syunik, and Vayots Dzor.
“In Lori Province, it is proposed to form the consolidated community of Stepanavan, which will include the current communities of Stepanavan, Gyulagarak, and Lori Berd, with a total of 20 settlements included in their composition,” Khudatyan said.
In Syunik, it is proposed to form the consolidated community of Goris, consisting of the current Goris, Tegh, and Tatev communities. The newly formed community will include a total of 28 settlements.
In Vayots Dzor, it is planned to form the consolidated community of Yeghegnadzor, which will include the communities of Yeghegnadzor, Areni, and Yeghegis, with a total of 32 settlements.
For the mentioned communities, this is already the second phase of consolidation, as previously consolidated communities are being merged into even larger units.
The minister said that as a result of the previous seven phases of administrative-territorial reforms, the number of communities in Armenia has been reduced to 70, of which 63 are consolidated communities.
“The capital Yerevan, Gyumri, and five communities populated by national minorities have not been merged. As a result of the implementation of the 8th phase of community consolidation, the number of communities will become 64, of which 57 will be consolidated communities,” the minister noted.
The draft also clarifies the procedure for scheduling council elections in merging communities and the transfer of powers of local self-government bodies. According to this regulation, on the 5th day after the publication of election results, the powers of the current local self-government bodies will cease, and on the same day the new council will assume its powers.
Khudatyan highlighted that the community consolidation process is not merely a mechanical merger.
“It is first and foremost a consolidation of professional and financial potential, with the aim of addressing larger issues in larger community units,” said the Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure.
He said that evidence of the effectiveness of this approach includes tens of billions of drams worth of programs implemented through government–community co-financing, which have significantly changed the landscape of communities.
Khudatyan said the proposed round will not be the final stage in the process.
“After some time, we will again come forward with new community consolidations and present them to the parliament, with the expectation of your approval,” the minister said.