Welcome Association Italy Meets with the Serbian Ambassador: New Prospects for Collaboration in the Academic and Cultural Spheres

Rome, November 10, 2026 – Welcome Association Italy (WAI), represented by National Deputy Secretary Carlo Palumbo, was received at the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Italy by H.E. Mirjana Jeremić, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia. Jovana Dimitrijević, Second Secretary of the diplomatic mission, also attended the meeting.

The meeting provided an opportunity to explore prospects for cooperation between the Association and the Embassy, with a particular focus on promoting cultural and academic ties between Italy and Serbia and on engaging the younger generation.

The meeting is part of the institutional dialogue initiated by WAI with the Serbian Mission and follows the visit on November 2 to the Italian Embassy in Belgrade, during which topics related to university mobility, the reception of international students, and opportunities for collaboration between the two countries.

During the discussion, the National Deputy Secretary shared with the Ambassador a summary of the meeting in the Serbian capital, outlining the main points that emerged and the experience gained by Welcome Association Italy in assisting Serbian citizens who choose Italy for their studies.

In this regard, data on the association’s activities were also cited: in 2025, WAI had 567 members of Serbian nationality, 91.6% of whom were there for study-related reasons. This finding highlights the significance of the university component in the Association’s work and the importance of fostering ongoing dialogue among students, academic institutions, and diplomatic representatives.

One of the key topics of the meeting was the possibility of establishing an ongoing partnership between Welcome Association Italy and the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia, through a series of initiatives aimed at promoting history, culture, and bilateral relations.

The proposals presented by WAI were well received by the Ambassador, making it possible to identify concrete opportunities for collaboration to be explored in the coming months. The goal is to establish a framework that goes beyond one-off meetings and fosters regular dialogue over time between the diplomatic mission, the academic community, and the relevant associations.

From this perspective, the role of cultural diplomacy—understood as a tool for fostering mutual understanding and promoting the historical heritage and friendly relations that bind Italy and Serbia—takes on particular importance. The involvement of students could be a key element of future activities, helping to introduce younger generations to an understanding of institutions and international relations.

These initiatives will be the subject of further discussions with the Embassy in order to define their content and organizational arrangements in line with their respective institutional objectives and priorities.

Welcome Association Italy extends its sincere thanks to H.E. Ambassador Mirjana Jeremić for her warm welcome, her openness to discussion, and the attention she gave to the proposals presented, as well as to Second Secretary Jovana Dimitrijević for her valuable collaboration and ongoing contribution to the dialogue with the diplomatic mission.

The meeting represents another step toward strengthening the relationship between WAI and the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Italy and lays the groundwork for a long-term partnership based on promoting mutual understanding and strengthening cultural and academic ties between the two countries.