Dr Vesna Rakonjac said that the projects the two countries had cooperated on have had a profound influence on Serbia and she was sure that their excellent bilateral relations would continue. She said that, speaking of healthcare, the Kingdom of Denmark is a model Serbia should follow. She also informed Hansen about the achievements of the Working Group for Political Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities and the cooperation the Committee on Labour, Social Issues, Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction has with the civil sector, adding that a law on social entrepreneurship is in the works which is to have a particular focus on persons with disabilities. She added that Denmark is an ideal model for Serbia as regards small and medium-sized business teaming.

Morten Skovgaard Hansen offered congratulations on the 100 years of diplomatic relations and cooperation between the two countries which have received an additional boost in the last decade. Hansen said that Denmark and Serbia enjoy excellent agricultural cooperation through the project in southern Serbia aimed at encouraging the production of fruit and berries which has led to the creation of 800 jobs. He also mentioned military cooperation and regional cooperation and capacity development support projects, stressing that Serbia is one of Denmark’s biggest partners in Europe outside of NATO. Hansen added that the Kingdom of Denmark fully supports Serbia’s European integration and that progress in the management and implementation of the legislative framework and the rule of law is obvious, as attested to by Danish companies doing business in Serbia.

The officials also spoke about the challenges the European Union is faced with such as Brexit, the migrant crisis and combating terrorism, but they agreed that Europe’s security lies in the cooperation of European countries.

PFG members Branka Stamenkovic, Zvonimir Djokic and Vesna Markovic advocated cooperation in the spheres of culture, healthcare, defence, agriculture, renewable energy, entrepreneurship and education and shared some ideas for new initiatives and programmes which should prove beneficial to both countries.