The Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, whose country will take over the presidency of the Council of the EU after Hungary, paid a visit to Chisinau where he delivered a speech in parliament to assure Moldovans of Poland’s full support for the country’s EU membership.

Poland is ready to support Moldova’s EU accession and compensate for the expected slowdown in the EU enlargement momentum during the Hungarian EU Council presidency. Ahead of visiting Chisinau, Tusk elaborated on the importance of Moldova’s pro-EU momentum for the fate of the war in Ukraine.

Tusk said that he wants Moldova’s EU accession process to be accelerated, and this will be his task while Poland holds the rotating presidency of the EU Council, starting next year.

"I really want to accelerate this accession process together with you and make this final real. If you want this if you so decide so, I will do everything possible so that Europe, in an effective and efficient manner, supports you without putting any obstacles, or barriers, but really supports you on this path,” declared Tusk.

Tusk’s visit is part of a broader campaign of Western officials visiting Moldova to support authorities’ efforts and tip the fragile balance among the electorate in favour of EU membership ahead of a referendum next month.

The outcome of the October 20 referendum, aimed at including EU integration in the country’s constitution, is still uncertain. The latest iData poll conducted in August showed that 47.8% of the electorate would vote for Moldova’s EU membership, while 37.1% are against it, compared to 58% in favour in May.

The same day Tusk was delivering a warm message in the Romanian language in front of the pro-EU lawmakers, the other half of the legislative body was absent and the Renaissance party, with fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor behind it, registered at the Electoral Bureau its intention to campaign against the country’s EU membership in the October 20 constitutional referendum.