A program similar to “Home Appliances in Exchange for Scrap” of Romania could be implemented in Moldova. This enables the people to exchange old home appliances (fridges, TV sets, washing machines, etc.) for new ones on the presentation of a voucher issued to each beneficiary. The condition is for the new electrical appliance to belong to an energy efficiency class A++.
The proposals were included in the ECIPES (European Cohesion by Individual, Public and Entrepreneurs Support) program developed by Iurie Calestru and Gabriel Mărgineanu, of the Institute for Project Development and Expertise.
Iurie Calestru has told IPN that this concept was presented to a number of MPs who could introduce it as a legislative proposal. 17% of Moldova’s population could benefit from this program, as well as half of the mayor’s offices and about 2,000 young people. The program necessitates about €40 million European funding for two years. For the project to be accepted by the EU, Moldovan MPs should make approaches.
Iurie Calestru said that 100,000 Moldovans will be direct beneficiaries during the first year alone. These would get a voucher of €100 (from the €10m allocated for each year) for purchasing household appliances. During the second year, the number of beneficiaries will double. It is estimated that 17% of the population will benefit from this program as the whole family will gain even if only one member could apply to the program.
Under the concept, the small entrepreneurs from the service sector and manufacturing industry will be able to access direct funds by using information technology. During the first year alone, the persons aged between 18 and 35 could start businesses with a sum of €5 million and there will be at least 1,000 beneficiaries.
The Moldovan local public authorities of the first and second levels, which have active twinning agreements with public authorities of Europe, with at least one common activity a year in both of the localities, will access support funds directly by using information technologies. This will enable to re-launch very important projects in villages and will open up opportunities for attracting additional financing.
By approving and launching the ECIPES program, Moldova will create preconditions for stopping the massive exodus of the young generation from the country, will contribute to reducing the negative impact of waste home appliances on the environment by initiating the centralized collection of these based on a pragmatic and efficient commercial approach. The local public authorities will also improve the relations with the foreign partners and will enhance the management of project implementation.
Iurie Calestru noted the ECIPES program was thought out and developed by consulting at least 10 MEPs since March 11, 2019. The program was presented for the first time to representatives of the EU Delegation in Chisinau in June 2019. Later, it was discussed at 25 meetings in Brussels, consultations with MEPs, at the European Committee of the Regions, the Embassies of Ukraine and Georgia in Brussels, etc. So far this year, it has been discussed with representatives of groups of Moldova’s Parliament that approved of the new paradigm by which Moldovan beneficiaries will be supported directly by the EU.
