CBK strengthens institutional capacities towards integration into the European System of Central Banks through the Central Bank Capacity Building Program in the Western Balkans

The Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo (CBK) participated in the successful completion ceremony of the Second Phase of the Central Bank Capacity Building Program in the Western Balkans, which has contributed to enhancing institutional capacities and standards towards integration into the European System of Central Banks (ESCB). At the closing ceremony, held in Frankfurt, Germany, the Member of the Executive Board of Deutsche Bundesbank, Mr. Burkhard Balz, addressed the participants with a keynote speech.

Over the 36 months of the program, implemented by Deutsche Bundesbank in partnership with the central banks of Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, and Slovakia, as well as with the contribution of the European Central Bank, CBK has been an active participant in a series of activities that have contributed to strengthening its institutional and professional capacities.

Within the framework of the program, 20 specialized trainings and 4 high-level policy workshops were held, in which CBK participated alongside the region’s central banks and supervisory authorities. In addition, CBK benefited from 9 bilateral activities carried out with the central banks of Austria, Luxembourg, Italy, Lithuania, Slovenia, and the Netherlands, as well as with the Croatian Financial Services Supervisory Agency.

The main areas of support included governance, risk management, operational resilience, banking supervision, anti-money laundering, financial stability, payment systems, statistics, and digitalization. Through these activities, CBK has not only strengthened its internal capacities but also made significant progress in adopting standards, advancing further on the path toward European integration, and fostering regional communication and cooperation.

CBK extends its appreciation to the European Union for financing the program under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III), Deutsche Bundesbank for managing and coordinating it, as well as to the European Central Bank and the central banks participating in the European System of Central Banks for their contribution to the successful implementation of the program.