JemsAs part of the project “Interventions on the Danube – I.D. Danube“, implemented with the support of the EU under the Interreg VI-A IPA programme Croatia – Serbia 2021–2027, firefighting equipment was officially handed over to volunteer fire departments in the South Bačka District on 30 January 2026. New equipment was received by the volunteer fire departments of Petrovaradin, Šajkaš, Despotovo, Tovariševo, and Bođani.
The equipment was formally presented by Ognjen Dopuđ, the Director of the Fund for European Affairs and Development of AP Vojvodina (project partner), in the presence of representatives from the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia, Sector for Emergency Management (project partner), Firefighting Association of Serbia and Firefighting Association of Vojvodina.
The modern firefighting equipment includes protective suits, helmets, belts with axes, hoods, boots, firefighting backpacks and chainsaws. This modernization increases the technical capacity of volunteer fire departments for emergency interventions while strengthening the role of local communities in protecting natural resources and human lives.
The “Interventions on the Danube” project, valued at approximately EUR 1.8 million, is being implemented, in addition to the Fund for European Affairs and Development of AP Vojvodina, by the Ministry of Interior, Sector for Emergency Management, on the Serbian side, as well as Vukovar-Srijem County (Lead Partner) and the Public Institution Port Authority Vukovar, on the Croatia side.
Global cooperation is becoming essential for resolving security, environmental and emergency challenges. A critical area of focus is emergency intervention on water, where pooling resources and knowledge between Serbia and Croatia can provide benefits to the entire cross-border region.
The border area between Serbia and Croatia faces risks due to increased vessel traffic on the Danube, including passenger ships, cruise liners and cargo transport. There are concerns regarding the lack of capacity for rapid and efficient response to fires, which could seriously jeopardize both human safety and the environment. Furthermore, there is a need for the rapid evacuation of passengers and individuals, as well as the efficient removal of pollutants from the surface of the Danube, thereby preventing the risk of coastal contamination. As a major international waterway, the Danube presents daily risks that are amplified by its status as a state border.
The procured equipment will enhance the technical capacity of volunteer fire departments in the South Bačka District, thereby increasing their level of preparedness and their ability to extinguish fires more effectively.
The project “Interventions on the Danube – I.D. DANUBE”, HR-RS00034, commenced on 1 September 2024, and will run until 28 February 2027. Financed under the Interreg VI-A IPA programme Croatia-Serbia, this project aims to enhance cooperation and disaster risk prevention in the Danube cross-border area by improving the skills and procedures of civil protection and fire-rescue operational forces. The total project budget is EUR 1,789,074.92, of which EUR 1,520,713.68 is provided by European Union.
Through effective cross-border cooperation, the safety of citizens living in the border region between Croatia and Serbia will be significantly enhanced. Improved operational civil protection forces and fire-rescue units will ensure proper care for citizens in the event of water-based accidents, regardless of where the incident occurs within the cross-border area. This project represents a vital step toward improving human safety and environmental protection.
