The primary objective of the project is to set up through joint efforts of the project partners a new development model for urban areas in the action area. This objective is in line with the long term overall aim stipulated in the HU-SRB Cross-Border Co-operation Programme, identifying educational and research co-operation as a means of extension of the opportunities of economy and culture in the programming area. As a specific objective for the 2007-2013 period, the Programme highlights the significance of co-operation in the case of research activities to which our project suits with its joint development of studies and methodology. JUAN is also in accordance with the horizontal objectives, namely "Creating joint structures by maximizing cross-border impact" by aiming to set up a sustainable cross-border spatial planning knowledge network. In our project, designed for a duration of 16 months, activities shall be carried out in Hungary and Serbia. Besides the management type activities, executed and financed by both partners, cross-border researches and foundation studies shall be elaborated by the experts on the issue of urban development. The findings of these materials shall be incorporated in one summary study. On the basis of the recommendations stipulated in this document, an integrated methodology shall be prepared as a background document for the development of future Integrated Urban Development Strategies in Hungary and Serbia. This methodology will also be a document gathering joint planning practices. Conferences and the preparation of publications will ensure dissemination of results, and workshops and the preparation of training material will be means of fostering knowledge tarnsfer. The development of a homepage will ensure sustainability of the network as a primary means of communication. Main target groups benefiting from the project are spatial planning experts and local decision makers in both countries. Achievements: Our era is sometimes called the Urban Millennium", because now for the first time in history, more than half of the population lives in cities. In all likelihood this trend will continue, resulting in a large numbers of the rural population moving to the cities. On one hand, this trend affects not only the development, but the survival of rural areas. On the other, the permanent and steady increase in the urban population will create new challenges for urban planners and experts involved in improving urban areas. The cross-border project partners, in preparing and implementing this project, tried to summarise and synthesise Hungarian experiences, by merging methodological practices gained in previous projects. In their Summary Study, they presented the experiences of local decision- makers and experts in the field of planning and partnerships. They gave an overview and listed the characteristics of the cities that the foundation studies de