Novi Sad Mayor Miloš Vučević attended the presentation of the Project "Strategic Noise Map and Action Plan for the City of Novi Sad in the Implementation of the IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Programme Serbia - Hungary". On this occasion, the participants in the Project submitted the strategic document to the City, aimed at improving the living conditions of the citizens of Novi Sad. The conference was attended by the Deputy Mayor of the Hungarian City of Baja Fercsák Róbert, the Faculty of Technology Novi Sad provost dr Zavargó Zoltán,  Head of the Local Economic Development Office Olivera Simović, as well as by the representatives of the Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

The leading beneficiary of the Project was the City of Baja in Hungary and a Project partner on the Serbian side was the Faculty of Technology Novi Sad. The Institute for Occupational Safety and Health participated in the Project implementation as a contractor in charge of measurements and in the Action Plan development, while the PC “Public Enterprise for the City Construction and Development” Novi Sad ensured the appropriate data, thus providing a significant contribution to the Project, as well as the City of Novi Sad, which participated in co- financing of the Project.

The aim of the Project was to prepare the Strategic Noise Map and action plans for both cities. This will help Serbia to harmonize its legal framework with the European Union directives in the field of noise reduction and it will also enable the implementation of these directives in the southern regions of Hungary.

- The cooperation with neighbouring countries and their cities is of great importance and IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Programme Serbia-Hungary promotes the common development of the Hungarian-Serbian border areas with the support of the European Union. Through an aspiration for the stronger City development we have joined this Project since it will provide better living conditions to our citizens. Hungary is a great partner, because it has the extensive experience in developing of the strategic maps and action plans for noise reduction. Based on these maps, the Plan for the noise removal in the most critical areas of the City, where the it exceeds the permitted level, has been developed. This will also bring a significant improvement in environmental protection agenda and it will improve overall living conditions of citizens of Baja and Novi Sad, and I hope that we will continue to strengthen already good cooperation with our neighbours in the future – Mayor Vučević said, using this opportunity to express his gratitude to all participants in the Project.

The Faculty of Technology Novi Sad provost, dr Zavargó Zoltán, pointed out that the greatest benefits of this Project will be directed to the citizens of Novi Sad, as the Strategic Noise Map and Action Plan will be the basis for the noise reduction to those levels that are required by the EU standards which will be harmonized with our legal documents. Moreover, he pointed out that Novi Sad is the first City in Serbia which has developed the Strategic Plan of this kind, emphasizing that without the Strategic Map and Action Plan, the City cannot compete in the EU funds.

Deputy Mayor of the Hungarian City of Baja Fercsák Róbert said he was proud of Novi Sad and Baja for having developed the Strategic Noise Maps and he also expressed his great satisfaction that this Project represents the first step towards a fruitful and successful cooperation between the City of Baja and City of Novi Sad.

Novi Sad, 27^th November 2013