OREANDA-NEWS. December 17, 2010. Danube countries, including Moldova, will be able to gain access to about EUR 100 billion provided by the EU for economic development. It is the EU Strategy for the Danube region seeking to eliminate economic inequality between the region countries.

Moldova will be able to improve quality of the transport and energy infrastructure, improve environment protection, encourage economic and social development growth. The Strategy envisages increasing cargo transport on the Danube by 20% by 2020, meaning elaboration of floods risk reduction plans, rise in the number of patents by 50% and young people with higher education by 40%.

There is also a concrete plan of actions oriented on the economic development in the region through more competitive companies, better education and better workplaces. The Danube Region encompasses 14 countries (of which 8 are EU Member States) ranging from Germany in the West to the Ukraine in the East.