Central Bank Governors at the Adria Future Summit Discuss the Future of Money in Digital Europe

22/04/2026

As part of the Adria Future Summit 2026, a panel entitled “The Future of Money in Digital Europe: Perspectives from Central Bank Governors” was held today, focusing on key issues shaping the future of money and payment systems in a time of accelerated digital transformation.

The panel brought together central bank governors from across Europe to discuss the implications of the digital euro and modern payment innovations for financial stability and the resilience of national financial systems.

The panel featured Irena Radović, Governor of the Central Bank of Montenegro; Primož Dolenc, Governor of the Bank of Slovenia; and Madis Müller, Governor of the Bank of Estonia and Member of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank. The discussion was moderated by Zorica Kalezić, Vice Governor of the Central Bank of Montenegro.

Governor Radović emphasized that the digital euro is not merely a technological innovation, but also an important step in the further development of Europe’s financial architecture.

“Early interoperability with new European financial systems is of strategic importance for Montenegro, because integration into the European payments infrastructure means lower transaction costs and greater competition in payment services for smaller economies. At the same time, this is also a matter of economic convergence with the European Union, since true integration does not happen only through formal accession, but also through gradual inclusion in the functional layers of the single market,” said Radović.

Speaking about Montenegro’s position, the Governor recalled that the country is already integrated into the European payments ecosystem through SEPA and is currently developing instant payment infrastructure aligned with the Eurosystem (TIPS Clone). She also noted that, during this year’s discussions with European institutions, Montenegro expressed strong interest in being considered as a pilot jurisdiction for the application of the digital euro in countries outside the euro area and outside the European Union that use the euro.

“Montenegro represents a natural environment for testing the cross-border usability, interoperability and inclusiveness of the digital euro – as a fully euroised economy, with an agile financial system, a high degree of openness and continuous alignment with European payment infrastructure,” Radović added.

Governor of the Bank of Slovenia Primož Dolenc underlined the transformative potential of the digital euro, noting that in the years ahead it could redefine the role of public money for European citizens by bringing the trust, stability and accessibility of central bank money into the digital age.

“Our vision is not to disrupt the financial system, but to be active actors in its transformation and renew it on European terms: creating a resilient, sovereign payments infrastructure that empowers people and businesses, preserves financial stability, and ensures that the benefits of innovation are shared across society," said Dolenc.

Governor of the Bank of Estonia and Member of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank Madis Müller underscored both the technological and strategic importance of the digital euro, emphasizing that it is intended to strengthen Europe as a whole. He noted that in Estonia, at least 70% of payments in physical shops are processed through international card schemes and that, as cash usage continues to decline, it is important to ensure the availability of a modern payment method that works across Europe.

“The digital euro, as digital cash, would offer a completely new payment rail, complementary to existing digital payment solutions. The availability of parallel, well-functioning digital payment solutions is important, as it would strengthen the overall robustness of the payment infrastructure,” Müller said.

The panel of governors at the Adria Future Summit 2026 sent a clear message: the future of Europe’s monetary system will not depend on a single instrument, but on the ability of different layers of financial infrastructure – from SEPA and instant payments to the digital euro and new solutions based on advanced technologies – to function in a coordinated, interoperable and inclusive manner.

In this context, Montenegro is recognized as a country that not only keeps pace with European developments, but also seeks to take part in them in a timely and meaningful way, reaffirming its commitment to the modernization of the financial system and to further European integration.