The Institute for Development and Expertise of Projects (IDEP) Moldova requests the MPs to sign a letter and to transmit it to the Board of the European Commission for the approval of the ECIPES program that is supported by over 25 MEPs, for the benefit of 17% of the country’s population, 50% of the mayors and 2,000 young people.
In a news conference at IPN, ECIPES program author Iurie Calestru, of the IDEP Moldova, said that together with the co-author of the program Gabriel Mărgineanu, they had discussions with over 60 MEPs and later had meetings with the European Commission. On June 10, they were assured of support for this program by nine more MEPs from six countries, who signed a letter addressed to the Board of the European Commission, by which they ask for the working group’s approval for the development of the program that is to be launched on January 1, 2021. It will be implemented during two years with the total allocated sum of €40 million.
According to Iurie Calestru, owing to this program the Moldovan citizens could apply online to have domestic electrical appliances renewed through a platform, with the identity card only. Instead, they will receive a one-off grant of €100 per person. “The second large category of beneficiates includes the mayor’s offices that are twinned with EU municipalities. They could implement a local development project with a maximum of €10,000 in EU funding. The young people between the ages of 18-35 seeking to launch a business are the third large category of beneficiaries. They will get by €5,000 for a venture in the services sector or €15,000 for a manufacturing venture,” he stated.
Co-author Gabriel Mărgineanu said the ECIPES program will help solve the problem of household electrical waste as domestic appliances will be collected in an organized way all over the country two times a year, from all those taking part in the program. Furthermore, the equipment covered by the program is of the A++ class. This means that the power consumption in the country will decrease for several times.
As regards the young people who intend to start a business, Gabriel Mărgineanu noted that only the businesses that will match the green economy will be facilitated. The mayor’s offices that will receive support will be able to use the money that will be disbursed in two-three days of the accession to set up a square or a public transport station, to light the area around a kindergarten, etc.
To join this program, a mayor should enter the database, fill out the standard form, transmit the given information and should then contact the foreign partner to get €10,000 in the form of a grant.
For a young entrepreneur to be able to access the program, this should fill out the form and should start an activity immediately after the application is accepted. Gabriel Mărgineanu specified that the financing here goes not to the entrepreneur, but to the business entity that will provide the entrepreneur with the necessary equipment or technology for avoiding the inefficient use of funds.
“The process for the citizens is very simply. Anyone, from home, from a computer or the mobile phone or, in the worst case, from the neighbor’s computer, can complete the very simple form within five minutes and submit it. The person will know that a vehicle will come to take the old TV set, to bring the new TV set and he will receive €100 that for an ordinary person with modest incomes in a village represents very important support,” stated Gabriel Mărgineanu.
Sergiu Manea, a member of the Employers Tourist Industry Association, said that he supports the ECIPES program. This will enable the localities to open a local museum or another important tourist facility, while small businesses can include a wine cellar, a tourist pension or a rural house that will attract tourists, including from the EU.
The ECIPES program is proposed for implementation by the European Commission and could benefit 17% of Moldova’s population, 50% of the mayors and 2,000 young people.
