Together with 19 national central banks of the European System of Central Banks (ESCB), the European Central Bank (ECB) and the European Commission, the Deutsche Bundesbank today held the closing event of an EU-funded programme for the benefit of 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 aim of the programme was to further strengthen the institutional capacities of the final beneficiary institutions, notably by enhancing their analytical and policy tools and by transferring the best international and European standards into national practices. The European Union (EU) allocated €3 million to the programme from its Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III).

During the closing event of the programme organised today by the Bundesbank, Mr Burkhard Balz, Member of the Executive Board of the Deutsche Bundesbank, underscored: “The close cooperation between the ESCB, the ECB, the European Commission and our partners in the Western Balkans has not only advanced their alignment with European and international standards, but has also fostered a culture of trust and openness.” And looking to the future and the road ahead, Balz added: “Reaching full alignment with European standards, safeguarding central bank independence and addressing new risks – such as those arising from digitalisation or geopolitical tensions – will require continued commitment and adaptability.” Mr Vasyl Zubaka, acting Team Leader for Public Administration Reform in the European Commission’s Directorate General for Enlargement and the Eastern Neighbourhood, underlined: “The programme represents an important contribution to improving economic governance in the Western Balkans. Strong and independent central banks are key pillars of stability, trust and sustainable growth in the region. It helps central banks in the Western Balkans to prepare for their integration into the European System of Central Banks.”

Over a period spanning 36 months, the Bundesbank, 19 national central banks and the ECB organised an intensive regional training programme on key central banking and supervisory issues, with 20 training events and four high-level meetings. In addition, the programme implemented bilateral measures with a scope of more than 500 expert days and internships benefiting the six Western Balkan EU candidate countries and potential candidates. Key areas included governance, risk management, operational resilience, banking supervision, anti-money laundering, financial stability, payment systems, statistics and digitalisation.

The programme was carried out by the Bundesbank in partnership with the Nationale Bank van België/Banque Nationale de Belgique, Българска народна банка (Bulgarian National Bank), Česká národní banka, the Bank of Greece, the Banco de España, the Banque de France, Hrvatska narodna banka, the Central Bank of Ireland, the 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 and Národná banka Slovenska. The European Central Bank contributed to the implementation of the programme.