Further environmental projects will start soon implementation in the framework of the Swiss-Hungarian Co-operation Programme. Support agreements for the two projects were signed on 20 January 2011 in the presence of Hungarian Minister of National Development Dr Tamás Fellegi and Swiss Minister of Economic Affairs Johann Schneider-Ammann. The approximately CHF 11 million contribution may be used for updating environment protection monitoring systems in the near future.
Pursuant to its bilateral agreement concluded with the European Commission in 2006, Switzerland will grant altogether CHF 1 billion as non-refundable support to the ten Member States that joined the European Union in 2004. Under the Hungarian-Swiss Co-operation Programme signed in December 2007, Hungary will receive HUF 25 billion non-refundable support for reducing regional economic and social disparities.
One of the two projects supported under the signed agreement serves the improvement of the National Air Pollution Measurement Network through updating the air quality surveillance system and the laboratory background. The approved grant amount is CHF 5.7 million.
The other project will improve the monitoring system of the Central Danube Valley Environmental, Nature Conservation and Water Management Inspectorate in order to prevent the evolution of environmental damages and thus protect the health of the population, the fauna and the flora. The amount approved as a grant exceeds CHF 5 million.
The Hungarian Minister of National Development Dr Tamás Fellegi and Swiss Minister of Economic Affairs Johann Schneider-Ammann were both present at the contract signing. In his keynote address Mr Johann Schneider-Ammann said: “Switzerland is particularly satisfied to support such projects in the area of environment, which will improve the quality of life of a great number of people”.
At the press conference Dr Tamás Fellegi reminded the participants that environmental projects improved the general state of the environment, surveyed eventual pollution and prevented the evolution of health hazards. Hopefully, the efficient co-operation established between the two governments in the framework of this programme will extend beyond the time frame of these agreements. “Hungary takes the opportunity to express its gratitude for the outstanding support,” the Minister of National Development added.
Budapest, 20 January 2011
Further information:
Ministry of National Development
Communication Department
Phone: +361 795 41 12
Fax: +361 795 06 33
E-mail: [[[BTHELDwj7yYMNGDMc2FqdG9AbmZtLmdvdi5odQ==]]]
Swiss Contribution Office
Mrs Liliana de Sá Kirchknopf
Head of Office
Phone: +361 460 70 56
Fax: +361 364 36 57
E-mail: [[[cKsYUxoMxGMd5TjMzYYnVkYXBlc3RAc2RjLm5ldA==]]]
