During the meeting between the Head of Mission of the Republic of Serbia to the EU, Ambassador Dusko Lopandić and director of the Representation of North Rhine Westphalia (NRW) to the EU Rainer Stephens, opinions were exchanged on the current political and economic situation in Europe, process of the European integration of the Republic of Serbia, migrant and refugee crisis and the role of NRW Representation in relations with the EU institutions in Brussels.

Ambassador informed his interlocutor about the results of recent elections in Serbia, the process of European integration of the Republic of Serbia and the support that Germany has provided in this process, with special emphasis on the stability in the region in light of the migrant and refugee crisis. Steffens reiterated readiness to provide necessary assistance in order to solve current situation, and stressed that in the SR Westphalia at this moment provided shelter for around six hundred thousand migrants and refugees, which means that the Lander took the biggest share of burden in the acceptance of migrants.

The counterparts underlined that, at the moment, work has been done on several joint initiatives that will lead to the strengthening of economic cooperation and trade and increased investments from Germany to Serbia, with the intensification of the existing cooperation between universities and the cities of Dortmund and Novi Sad.

It has been agreed to establish communication and exchange of information in the field of the interior affairs and the movement of migrants and willingness to organize joint events in the field of investment, regional cooperation and exchange of best practices experiences.