“The modernisation of community transport started in 2010 has brought about continuous improvement in the operation of transport companies and efficient management makes higher service standards possible”, Minister of National Development Miklós Seszták said at the opening ceremony of the European Mobility Week on 16 September, 2014. Other speakers at the event held at Baross tér (Square) included Mayor of Budapest István Tarlós, President-CEO of MÁV Ltd. Ilona Dávid, CEO-Chairman of MVM Hungarian Electricity Ltd. Csaba Baji and CEO of HNAM Ltd. Péter Márton. The one-week European campaign aims to encourage local authorities to take sustainable transport measures and the population to use environmentally aware transport.

“Those who opt for environmentally friendly transport solutions do a lot in favour of a better operating, sustainable and healthy urban environment and for their own and their children’s future”, Miklós Seszták emphasised in his address.

Talking about the Car Free Day in Budapest, which is part of the European Mobility Week, István Tarlós said: “In Andrássy út (Avenue) we shall have the chance to show what the Capital can do for developing a more liveable city. What we have to do is not to put drivers in a disadvantaged situation but to show them proper alternatives so that they develop a liking for using environmentally friendly means of transport”, the Mayor added.

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“All of us have immense personal responsibility in making community transport a success and through that in passing on a liveable future to our descendants”, President-CEO of MÁV Ltd. Ilona Dávid emphasised in her speech. “The efforts of the management of MÁV Group and its over 30 thousand employees are targeted at making the national railway company more competitive, more profitable and even more attractive to passengers”, she pointed out.

This is the fourth time that MVM Hungarian Electricity Ltd. is to organise the MVM Energy Race within the framework of the European Mobility Week on 20 September. CEO-Chairman of the company Csaba Baji said: “For MVM it is an obligation to support social issues, environment protection and innovation. The main goals of this highest-ranking race of unconventionally driven vehicles, pioneering even at the European level, are to enhance the population’s environmental awareness and support the energy strategy goals of the European Union and Hungary and, within these, of the MVM Group.”

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Chief Executive Officer of the Hungarian National Asset Management Ltd. Péter Márton emphasised: “HNAM, as the company exercising the ownership rights of Volán transport companies, is doing a good job if they do their best for improving the standard of community transport.” With reference to the ongoing reorganisation of Volán companies he said: “The coordination of timetables, the widening of services and the fact that vehicles have become more modern and meet environmental regulations and expectations in every respect have all helped to achieve that bus transport is now able to offer a competitive alternative to cars.”

This is the 13th time that Hungary has organised the European Mobility Week and Car Free Day, of which the Ministry of National Development is the national coordinator. The programme series encourages travellers to consider, when choosing a means of transport, sustainability aspects as well, thereby contributing to a healthier and cleaner urban environment. The slogan of this year’s campaign is: “Our streets, our choice”. This year once again there has been a record in the number of settlements that have registered to join the one-week campaign: in 2012 there were 112 settlements to join, in 2013 there were 129, while, according to the latest data available, 137 Hungarian settlements have joined this year already. For detailed information on the programmes of the European Mobility Week, held from 16 to 22 September, in both Budapest and the country, please visit the website www.emh.kormany.hu.

(Ministry of National Development, Communications Department)