CBCG Strengthens Readiness for the EU with Bundesbank and European Partners's Support
11/09/2025
The CBCG participated in the closing ceremony of the second phase of the EU-funded project titled “Programme for Strengthening the Central Bank Capacities in the Western Balkans with a view to the Integration to the European System of Central Banks - Phase II”. Over the past three years, the Bundesbank implemented the Programme in partnership with 19 national central banks of the ESCB and the ECB. The EU allocated 3 million euros for this Programme through the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III).
The Programme’s objective is to further strengthen the institutional capacities of beneficiary institutions, especially in improving analytical tools and policies and transferring the best international and European standards into national practice.
At the closing event held in Frankfurt, Burkhard Balz, Member of the Executive Board of the Bundesbank, emphasised that the close cooperation of the ESCB, the ECB, the European Commission and Western Balkan partners has not only advanced alignment with European and international standards but also fostered a culture of trust and openness. He highlighted that achieving full compliance with European standards, safeguarding the independence of central banks, and addressing new risks such as those stemming from digitalisation or geopolitical tensions will require continuous commitment and adaptability.
Vasyl Zubaka, Acting Head of the Public Administration Reform Team at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for European Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, stated that the Programme represents an important contribution to preparing the central banks of the Western Balkans for integration into the ESCB, stressing that strong and independent central banks are key pillars of stability, trust, and sustainable growth in the region.
Through this programme, the CBCG has further enhanced its capacities in areas essential to its core mandate, including leadership, risk management, operational resilience, banking supervision, anti-money laundering, financial stability, payment systems, statistics, and digitalisation. The programme involved more than 500 expert days of bilateral activities, which enabled the CBCG to exchange best practices in central banking and apply them in the domestic framework.
Participation in joint projects with European central banks is of particular importance to the CBCG, as it contributes to implementing reforms, strengthening institutional capacities, safeguarding stability, and its future integration into the ESCB.