On this occasion the official delegation of the City of Neuss sojourned in Rijeka, led by Thomas Nickel, the first deputy mayor. The delegation included the most important participants in this fruitful cooperation: Peter Söhngen, former deputy mayor of the City of Neuss, Msgr. Jochen Koenig, clergyman and former city deacon, Karl-Josef Uhe, former head of the Social Welfare Office of the City of Neuss, Peter Gronsfeld, former head of the German Red Cross from Neuss, who in 2008, as a sign of recognition and respect, were awarded the Golden Plaque by the City of Rijeka.
Many members of this long-standing co-operation, for which the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus from Drenova paved the way almost 50 years ago, were present at the ceremony. Namely, on the basis of the agreement signed with the City of Neuss dating back to 1968, they nursed elderly and unable citizens of Neuss and thus gained excellent reputation and respect of all the citizens of Neuss.

Handing over the coat of arms and a gold coin featuring St. Vitus to Thomas Nickel, the first deputy mayor of Neuss, the mayor of the City of Rijeka Vojko Obersnel emphasised that the friendship between the two cities - Rijeka and Neuss - was not just an empty word, but it included understanding, assistance and cooperation, fostered for twenty years. Over these twenty years both parties exchanged experiences in the field of education, social welfare, the operation of city administration, culture and the economy, and during the war in Croatia, the citizens of Rijeka could experience the meaning of "providing help when in need", as humanitarian aid was provided by the citizens of Neuss.
Obersnel expressed his thanks to the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus who, owing to their work, had gained huge reputation in Neuss, and also to the signatories who at that time had signed the Agreement Željko Lužavac and Ivan Perković thus paving the way for this successful long-standing co-operation. Finally, the mayor emphasised that further to many similarities connecting Rijeka and Neuss, the cities are awaiting common future in the European Union, where cooperation between the two cities will further develop.
The deputy mayor of the City of Neuss, Thomas Nickel thanked the City of Rijeka for the hospitality pointing out that a journey to Rijeka for every citizen of Neuss is worth travelling because there they will find friends and may feel like at home. After all, this friendship lasting for 20 years proves it. Although a large number of citizens, through associations, schools and institutions has taken part in building up this friendship, Nickel particularly expressed his thanks to the four citizens of Neuss whom the City of Rijeka in 2008, as a sign of recognition and respect, had awarded the Gold Palque: Peter Söhngen, Msgr. Jochen Koenig, Karl-Josef Uhe and Peter Gronsfeld. From 1991 to 1995 they collected and personally transported humanitarian aid to Rijeka.
The relationships between the two twinned cities have surpassed the official level, and are now being developed within the visits of young people, pensioners, the Red Cross etc. "The cities' official representatives may only set a framework for cooperation, while the citizens themselves provide its contents" said Nickel concluding that many sports and other manifestations organised by the City of Neuss would not be the same without the participation of Rijeka citizens.
Next year a small community of the Sacred Heart of Jesus will leave Neuss to return to their country where they will keep on their work, but this time taking care of children and youth. "Nevertheless, cooperation between the two cities will continue because new generations of young people are arriving to take over and further widen this cooperation, said Nickel.
Archbishop Ivan Devčić also welcomed the guests from Neuss and thanked them for this long cooperation and friendship.