A rural development center will be set up in Moldova with the financial support of Poland. A sum of €2 million will be provided in 2014, but afterward the sum will be increased, Prime Minister Iurie Leanca said in a news conference held after a meeting with his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk, who is paying a visit to Moldova, IPN reports.

Iurie Leanca said he appreciates the Polish authorities’ readiness to help open such a center in Moldova. “A sum of €8 million is projected to be allocated next year, while in 2016-2020 there will be collected at least €20 million from the Polish assistance and other sources,” he stated.

Poland also offers €132,000 to the public TV channel of Moldova for renovating a news studio. There was considered the possibility of Poland providing a loan in advantageous conditions for supporting the development of the animal-breeding and vegetable growing sector of Moldova.

Donald Tusk said the EU approves of the efforts made by the Moldovan authorities to make progress on the path to European integration. “This path deserves to be covered. At the start of the 1990s, Poland, Moldova, and Ukraine had almost the same income per capita. Now the growth in Poland is much higher,” said the official. Today Poland is one of the largest exporters of agricultural products and this is due to the European funds that helped the country to develop its agricultural sector.

The Polish Premier also said that the Moldovans chose their European path by themselves and they will never be pressed by the EU to make particular choices. The EU member states can be sure that a neighboring country will not blackmail them or force them to choose something. Referring to the invasion of the Russian army in Crimea, explained by the necessity of protecting the Russians living there, Donald Tusk underlined that the national minorities are nowhere as protected as in the EU.

According to him, the door to the EU was opened for Moldova. From May, the Moldovans will be able to travel visa-free in the EU, while in June Moldova will sign the Association Agreement with the EU. Moldova can soon obtain the status of accession candidate of the EU, but everything depends on Moldovan authorities’ determination.