Governor Ismaili welcomes Mr. Burkhard Balz, Executive Board Member of the Deutsche Bundesbank

The Governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo (CBK), Mr. Ahmet Ismaili, together with the Deputy Governors, had the honor today to welcome Mr. Burkhard Balz, Member of the Executive Board of the Deutsche Bundesbank, along with his delegation, on the occasion of the first high-level visit of the Bundesbank to the CBK.

Governor Ismaili and Mr. Balz discussed the strong and longstanding cooperation between the two institutions, particularly in the area of reserves management, operations and capacity developments. The Governor expressed his appreciation for the continued partnership with the Bundesbank, including its role in operating, on behalf of the Eurosystem, the repo line available to the CBK.

During the meeting, Governor Ismaili also briefed Mr. Balz on recent developments in Kosovo’s financial sector and the broad structural reforms undertaken to enhance financial stability, modernize the payment infrastructure, and align regulatory frameworks with EU standards. In this context, the Governor reaffirmed Kosovo’s commitment to joining the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) and voiced his expectation for continued support and advocacy from European partners, including the Deutsche Bundesbank.

This visit follows the Governor’s recent meeting with Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel in the Deutsche Bundesbank in Frankfurt and reflects the deepening of institutional ties and strategic collaboration.

At the conclusion of the visit, both sides acknowledged the ongoing support provided through the EU-funded Programme for Strengthening Central Bank Capacities in the Western Balkans, implemented by the Bundesbank in cooperation with Eurosystem Central Bank partners, and explored opportunities for future cooperation in other areas of mutual interest.

The visit underscores the CBK’s commitment to building robust international partnerships and leveraging expertise to strengthen Kosovo’s financial system.