Eleven MEPs already expressed their support for 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. The program envisions the implementation of a project similar to Romania’s “Home Appliances in Exchange for Scrap” and provision of assistance to young people and mayor’s offices from the European funds allocated to Moldova (2021-2022) through the European Neighborhood Instrument, IPN reports.

The ECIPES program will provide support to people aged between 18 and 35 to start businesses: €5 million for businesses in the service sector and €15,000 for business in the manufacturing sector, €12,000 of which for purchasing tools and equipment.

Within the program, the Moldovan mayor’s offices that have active twinning agreements with public authorities of Europe and at least one common activity a year in both of the localities will benefit from assistance to financially support one local development project whose value will not exceed €20,000, with at most €10,000 in EU financial support.

Another component of the project allows for the implementation of a program similar to “Home Appliances in Exchange for Scrap” of Romania 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 program was presented first 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.  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, said Iurie Calestru, one of the authors.