Directorate of Measures and Precious Metals, was on September 25 and 26, 2012, the host of the Fifth Meeting of EURAMET-WELMEC Focus Group on Facilitating National Metrology Infrastructure Development. Directorate prepared and organized the meeting in cooperation with EURAMET (European regional metrology organization) and PTB - International Technical Cooperation.

In work of the Focus Group participated 35 eminent experts, representatives of National Metrology Institutes (NMIs) from 16 countries of EUROPE, as well as representatives EURAMET, WELMEC (European Cooperation in Legal Metrology), representatives of PTB, representatives of the German Society for International Cooperation GIZ, representatives of the National accreditation bodies (NAB), and the Ministry of Finance and Economy of the Republic of Serbia.

The agenda of the meeting included the following: internal matters of Focus Group, the status of the transition to the Joint Technical Committee of EURAMET and WELMEC, the current status of proposals of EMPIR projects, experience in registration and participation of existing EMRP projects, the adoption of guidelines for Capacity Building in the frame of EMPIR and EMRP projects , tasks for the new Joint Technical Committee (metrology infrastructure development), a summary of news from TC-Q, the board of directors of EURAMET and WELMEC, review of projects organized on a national and regional basis, and development of an action plan. After the conclusions of the meeting held in Belgrade, it was decided that the next meeting be held in Turkey in 2013.

The meeting was opened by Mrs. Jelena Popovic, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy. She has presented key activities and results achieved in recent years in quality infrastructure in Serbia, highlighting the news and results in metrology. The guests were welcomed and made an opening statement Mrs. Vida Zivkovic, Director of Directorate of Measures and Precious Metals and co-chairman of Focus Group for organization. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Janko Drnovsek, Vice President of EURAMET.
At the meeting was discussed internal matters of Focus Group, submitted a general report on the work in the previous year and current activities. Also, specifically was discussed the preparation of a proposal for a new European development and innovation project in the field of metrology EMPIR, possible transformation of the Focus Group in Technical Committee EURAMET TC and scope of its work (ToR), PTB regional project on quality infrastructure, IPA 2011 regional projects and on PTB and GIZ project in the Republic of Serbia.

The fifth meeting of the Focus Group emphasized the importance of having quality infrastructure strategy that includes the strategic development of key quality infrastructure institutions such as the Directorate for Measures and Precious Metals, Accreditation Board of Serbia and Institute for Standardization.

After the end of the official part of the meeting, Focus Group participants visited the Museum of Nikola Tesla and DMDM laboratories.