The Deutsche Bundesbank, 19 national central banks of the European System of Central Banks (ESCB) and the European Central Bank (ECB), have today jointly launched Phase III of the EU-funded “Programme for Strengthening the Central Bank Capacities in the Western Balkans” with a view to the integration to the European System of Central Banks. The aim of the programme is to further strengthen the institutional capacities of the final beneficiary institutions, notably by enhancing their analytical and policy tools and by translating the best international and European standards into national practices. The programme will benefit the Bank of Albania, the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Banking Agency of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Banking Agency of Republika Srpska, the Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo, the Central Bank of Montenegro, the National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia and the National Bank of Serbia. The European Union (EU) has allocated €3 million to the programme from its Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III).

The kick-off event of the new programme was held today at Banca d’Italia with Deputy Governor Chiara Scotti in attendance. The European Commission was represented by Giulio Venneri, Deputy Head of Unit for Enlargement Strategy & Coordination, Directorate-General for Enlargement and the Eastern Neighbourhood. The Bundesbank, in its role as project leader, underlined the fact that the programme supports the preparation of the Western Balkans central banks for their integration into the European System of Central Banks and highlighted the importance of achieving sustainable results and the relevance of relationship building.

Over the next 36 months, the Bundesbank, together with the partner EU central banks and with contributions by the ECB, will organise an intensive regional training programme on key central banking and supervisory issues. The main thematic focus will be on new developments in central banking and financial supervision in the areas of anti-money laundering and combating terrorism financing, cyber risks, data science and management, digital transformation, innovation, and artificial intelligence at central banks. There will also be high-level meetings on the current topics in focus such as central bank independence as well as new developments in payment systems. Furthermore, the new programme will continue to significantly support the implementation of specific bilateral measures in addition to the regional training events. 

The programme is being implemented by the Bundesbank as its coordinator in partnership with the Nationale Bank van België/Banque Nationale de Belgique, Българска народна банка (Bulgarian National Bank), the Bank of Greece, the Banco de España, the Banque de France, Hrvatska narodna banka, the Central Bank of Ireland, Banca d’Italia, Lietuvos bankas, the Banque centrale du Luxembourg, the Magyar Nemzeti Bank, De Nederlandsche Bank, the Oesterreichische Nationalbank, Narodowy Bank Polski, the Banco de Portugal, Banca Naţională a României, Banka Slovenije, Národná banka Slovenska and Sveriges Riksbank. The European Central Bank will contribute to the project’s implementation.