The ceremony was attended by representatives of state, county and local authorities, as well as guests from Serbia and representatives of religious communities. President of the Joint Council of Municipalities Srdjan Jeremic greeted the guests, Croatian Deputy Prime Minister Boris Milosevic, SDSS and SNV MP Milorad Pupovac, SDSS MP Dragana Jeckov, newly elected Vukovar-Srijem County Prefect and his deputy Damir Dekanic and Franjo Oreskovic, Head of the Croatian Government Office for Human Rights and Rights of National Minorities Alen Tahiri, Chairman of the Serbian Parliamentary Committee on the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region Milimir Vujadinovic, Director of the Provincial Fund for Refugees and Displaced Persons and for Cooperation with Serbs in the Region Dusko Cutilo and many others.

Jeremic presented the results achieved by the Joint Council of Municipalities in the previous period, stressing that the same practice would continue in the period to come. He highlighted the good cooperation with the authorities in the home country and applauded the election of the new Prefect Damir Dekanic. He said that one of the main duties of the Joint Council of Municipalities is to monitor the level of employment in accordance with the representation of Serbs in state and public services, to coordinate the work of all the municipalities that fall within its scope and to demand respect for Croatian laws in that domain.

The newly elected Prefect Damir Dekanic also greeted the attending, saying that he would work on everything he promised in his campaign, which is, among other things, respect for all the rights of national minorities and the common life of all the citizens of the County.

Milimir Vujadinovic, Chairman of the Committee on the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region of the Serbian National Assembly, said that the state of Serbia helps all Serbs in the region which is the result of a stable and strong Serbia. He also applauded the election of the new Prefect, saying that his words were encouraging and adding that Serbia would continue to compete with Croatia in GDP growth, investments, reducing unemployment, kilometres of highway and football, and that the plan was to win in everything.

Since no plaques or charters were awarded last year due to the epidemiological situation, they were awarded on this occasion. The plaque for 2020 was awarded to the Cultural Art Society of Sloga Vukovar, and the charter for 2021 went to three radio stations - Radio Danube, Radio Borovo and Radio Banska Kosa. The awards were received by Branislav Bijelic who expressed his satisfaction that they are proof and encouragement for the good work and all the success so far.

The Chairman of the Serbian Parliamentary Committee on the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region Milimir Vujadinovic stressed that in Croatia he feels like he is among his people, which is important for the survival of Serbs in this area, adding that he noticed empty villages and houses when he came to Vukovar. He said that the principle the policy of the Republic of Serbia is based on is that "the neighbour should be progressive, as should we along with him". He conveyed greetings from the Serbian authorities stressing that Serbia is progressing economically, as well as having political stability it has not had for a long time, which gives hope for the Serbian community in Croatia and ultimately for Croatia. Vujadinovic especially greeted the newly elected Vukovar-Srijem County Prefect Damir Dekanic, whose words he called encouraging. In his welcome speech before Vujadinovic, Dekanic said he would do what he promised in the election campaign, which is the implementation of Croatian laws and the Constitution when it comes to the Serb community in Croatia, such as the use of official language and script, education and freedom of expression in the upcoming census. The Committee Chairman said that, on behalf of the Serbian authorities, he prays that Croatian laws be respected, nothing more, nothing less, and that this will be enough for the relations between the two countries to take an upward course. He pointed out that national minorities in Serbia enjoy a wide scope of rights and that they only demand that equal rights be respected in Croatia as well. At the end of his speech, Vujadinovic said that Serbia would continue to "compete" with Croatia - in GDP growth, reducing unemployment, building infrastructure, increasing salaries and strengthening cultural institutions, because such "competition" can bring benefits to both sides.