The Independent Analytical Centre “Expert-Grup”, in partnership with the European Union Delegation in the Republic of Moldova, Soros Moldova Foundation and the Institute for European Policies and Reforms organized today, at April 30, the launching event of the project “Consolidation of Consumers Protection Framework in the Republic of Moldova”. It is a major importance project for our country since this area is indispensable for the assurance of a sound competition and a functional and fair market economy, but also considering the fact that consumers protection is a key-component for the European integration process.

At the opening of the event, Janis MAŽEIKS, the European Union Ambassador in the Republic of Moldova declared: “An efficient policy for consumers protection ensures a correct functioning of the single market. The consumers protection provisions have a potential of stimulating the market results in general. Empowerment of consumers and safeguarding of their interests find themselves among the key objectives of the EU policies. The strengthening of the capacities of Moldovan institutions responsible for the consumers rights’ protection is therefore crucial for the EU enlargement process. In the framework of this project, the EU will support creation of user-friendly digital instruments for the consumers and will contribute to the raising of education level of the consumers from Moldova, leading to better informed purchasing decisions.”

Daniela VIDAICU, the Executive Director of Soros Moldova Foundation, also delivered some welcome remarks, emphasizing the importance of establishing a robust system for consumers protection in the context of the Republic of Moldova’s European integration. “A robust consumers protection system is absolutely necessary for an open society. Implementation of the European acquis in this area will contribute to the alignment to the best European practices as well as to the improvement of multiple aspects of life for Moldovans. The protection of consumer rights does not only contribute to better trust among the consumers and the suppliers, but it also contributes significantly to the increase in quality of life and to the assurance of a fair market competition, which represent the key elements for investment attraction and for the support of sustainable economic development.” 

Cristina CEBAN, State Secretary, Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization, declared: “As a candidate country with solid aspirations of becoming a member of the European Union family, we acknowledge the importance of consumers protection on the EU market. We are aware that the solid measures for the safeguarding of the consumers and alignment of policies and practices to the EU standards are essential for the welfare of individuals and for the consolidation and integrity of the single market into which we aspire to integrate. In the context when the technologies are rapidly advancing and the trade relations become more complex, the consumers protection is more important than ever before. The consumers face multiple risks and challenges starting with the purchasing of an ordinary product and up to the signing of a loan agreement. In this regard, similar to the realia in the European Union space, the Republic of Moldova strives to ensure a robust legislation and efficient mechanisms for consumers protection, which are essential for the avoidance of fraud, abuse and unfair commercial practices. We thus commit ourselves to make sure that the products entering our market are compliant to strict safety standards according to the EU regulations; to acknowledge and support the fundamental consumers rights; to implement measures for the prevention of unfair commercial practices; to promote the importance of education and awareness-raising among consumers for an informed decision-making thereof and, the last but not the least, we emphasize the importance of transborder cooperation to sustain the efforts of consumers protection.”

“The consumers protection framework in the Republic of Moldova is very much scattered. Besides the Inspectorate, there are also other authorities that in addition to their main mandate also have the role of implementing the consumers protection related legislation. In this context it is crucial to make sure that this mandate does not stay on a secondary position on the agenda of the responsible authorities. Our concern is to be able to ensure a synergy among the institutions in charge with this and to genuinely contribute to the consolidation of the consumers protection framework in the Republic of Moldova”, stated Sergiu DARANUTA, Chief of the State Inspectorate for Non-food Product Supervision and Consumer Protection.

In this context, Adrian LUPUSOR, Executive Director of Expert-Grup stated: “The reform of the consumers protection area is directly related to our country’s commitments in the framework of the European integration process, accounting for a separate chapter (Chapter 28) in the framework of the accession negotiations to be launched soon. In this regard, the project launched today aims at supporting these efforts for the improvement of the regulatory framework in the area of consumers protection, promotion of consumers rights in mass-media and the establishment of the European Consumers Centre that is intended to become the main non-governmental institution focused on the promotion and protection of consumers rights in the Republic of Moldova.”

The general objective of the project is raising the level of awareness and enforcement of consumers rights in the Republic of Moldova, and it is supposed to be attained via the following specific objectives.

The first specific objective refers to the strengthening of the capacities of the Government and of the authorities having competencies in the area of consumers rights’ protection for the enforcement of the relevant legal provisions and assurance of consumers rights’ protection. The attainment of this specific objective will be mainly possible due to the technical assistance provided by the project experts’ team, that will allow the Government and the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization (MEDD) to accelerate the process of harmonization to the EU acquis in the area of consumers rights’ protection and to improve the consumers rights’ protection framework. Besides, for the provision of consultancy to the consumers, both at the national level and also in the framework of the transborder conflicts, the project aims at the creation of the European Centre for Consumers Protection.

The second specific objective aims at the increased of the consumers awareness of their rights and of the actions they may take in case of violation thereof. For the accomplishment of this objective, the consortium will support the implementation of an ample awareness-raising campaign on consumers rights. In addition to that, there will be five media organizations identified, that will be offered sub-grants for the production of journalistic investigations, articles, radio and TV programs on topics related to consumers rights and actions to be taken in case of violation thereof. In addition to that, the European Centre for Consumers Protection will be created – an independent non-governmental organization that will promote and help the consumers claim their rights. 

In the framework of the discussion panels dedicated to the reform of the consumers rights’ framework protection in the Republic of Moldova in line with the European standards and practices, the panelists – representatives of the Government, of the authorities with a mandate in the area of consumers rights’ protection, of the European Union Delegation in the Republic of Moldova and of the civil society underlined the need for reform, mentioning that it could bring considerable benefits for the entire society and for the business environment. At the same time, the speakers emphasized the fact that the consumers protection in a balanced manner versus the protection and development of the entrepreneurs is an indispensable element for the promotion of a sound competition and of a functional and fair market economy, as well as the fact that it is one of the priority areas for the harmonization of the European acquis in the context of the European integration process. The project “Consolidation of consumers protection framework in the Republic of Moldova” is implemented by the Independent Analytical Centre Expert-Grup as leader of the consortium, in partnership with the Institute for European Policies and Reforms (IPRE), financed by the European Union and Soros Moldova Foundation, in the time interval January 2024 - June 2026.

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Contact person, Agachi Inga, communication manager, Independent Analytical Centre “Expert-Grup”, phone no.: 069 44 56 07.