On 25 August, Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities hosted an info day dedicated to 2016 European Mobility Week. The SCTM also organised a session within the project “Support to local self-governments on the EU path.“ Representatives of around 20 Serbian towns and municipalities took part in the session where Djordje Stanicic, Secretary General of SCTM, Mirko Radovanac EMW National Coordinator and Marina Rakic from the EU Info Centre spoke about European Mobility Week.

European Mobility Week is an annual campaign of sustainable urban mobility taking place from 16-22 September. Initially launched in the EU, the campaign expanded over time to non-EU countries as well, and is now traditionally held in cities in Brazil, Japan, the US.

Participation implies the organisation of activities promoting urban mobility and alternative means of transport as well as the “Car-free day“ event when an entire part of a city is closed for car traffic. Topic of this year’s campaign is “Smart mobility. Strong economy“ and has so far attracted 1,766 cities and towns (http://www.mobilityweek.eu/) including numerous in Serbia.

Within the EMW, the EU Info Centre and EU Delegation to Serbia organise a series of activities with the core activity being “Green cross-walks;“ namely, on 16 September, Belgrade, Novi Sad and Nis will cover a cross-walk with white canvas, allowing pedestrians to cross it leaving green footprints. The goal of this interactive action is to engage citizens to “think green“ and choose bicycle, public transport or walking over cars as a way of getting around.

Representatives of towns and municipalities present at the SCTM session shared their previous experience in marking the EMW and announced that two Serbian cities will be running for 2016 EMW Award: Krusevac and Pancevo. Each year, the EMW Award is given to a city which organises the EMW best and thus contribute to promotion of sustainable urban mobility.

Krusevac already took part in the contest in 2015, whereas Pancevo runs for the first time this year. In order to take part in the contest, the city has to meet three criteria: have the EMW Charter signed by the mayor; organise actions throughout the week; and implement at least one permanent measure in the area of urban mobility.

Jelena Nikolic of Krusevac City Administration said the city had adopted an Urban Mobility Plan, built cycling trails, as well as that it implemented a permanent measure and closed the main street for traffic in the afternoon hours. She said that a series of EU projects in which the city took part underpinned its candidacy.

Gordana Vlajic from the City Secretariat for Environmental Protection of Pancevo said the city had 6.8 km of cycling trains, planned to purchase a catamaran in order to facilitate crossing the river, purchased a gas powered bus and implemented a permanent measure: the city printed publications for elementary and high school students. “The main goal is to change the image of Pancevo as a black spot of contamination and turn it into a green city,“ Vlajic said.

The decision on the winner is traditionally announced in next March; the Award includes the promotion of the winning city and production of a video about the city. In 2015, the EMW Award went to Murcia, Spain.