Lots of effort, supported by Switzerland with HUF 1.7 billion (CHF 5.7 million), were focused on replacing old, obsolete technical equipment, expanding and improving the capacity of manual air quality monitoring system across Hungary as well as on dispersing more reliable and widely available data. This investment has so far been the largest development carried out in the manual monitoring network operating since 1974, where no EU funds were specifically available. The success of the project can also be measured by the very efficient use of every Swiss Francs, thanks to the work of the highly committed project management team and their partners.

Altogether 231 pieces of state-of-the-art sampling and laboratory measurement instruments have been purchased that comply with the EU monitoring directives and allow the mapping of polluted areas and the level of air pollution (including the measuring of rare pollutants).

After a meeting with the representatives of the media, the closing event continued with an acknowledgement and a celebration of the achievements of the project. The host of the day, Zsolt V. Németh, State Secretary for Environmental Affairs, Agricultural Development and Hungaricums emphasized the value of clean air and the objectives on reducing pollution risks. In his welcome speech, Jean-François Paroz, Ambassador of Switzerland to Hungary commended the excellent work and the tangible results of the project. The well-organized event included the operators’ introduction about the achievements of the project as well as the thanks and appreciation to the Executing Agency and to all other project partners by dr András Rácz, Deputy State Secretary for Environmental Affairs. Finally participants were invited to have a closer look at one of the mobile measurement stations (monitoring vans), that are in operation in areas not covered before, as well as at some manual devices like e.g. the Swiss made high volume dust sampler.

Detailed information on the project is available here.