The Governor of the CBK participates in the founding meeting of the Steering Group for SEPA implementation led by the Directors General from the European Commission

The Governor of the Central Bank of Kosovo (CBK), Mr. Ismaili, along with Deputy Governor Mr. Fusha, participated in the founding (virtual) meeting of the Steering Group for the Implementation of SEPA. The meeting was led by the Directors General of the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR), Mr. Koopman, and the Directorate‑General for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union (DG FISMA), Mr. Berrigan and participation from the governors of central banks of the Western Balkans and Moldova, the European Payments Council (EPC), the European Central Bank (ECB), and the World Bank.

The purpose of establishing this group is to monitor the implementation of the project to expand SEPA’s geographical area, serving as a forum for the exchange of experiences, information, and coordination to address relevant issues in implementing this project.

In line with developments stemming from the European Union’s Growth Plan, the initiative to establish the Steering Group by the DG NEAR of the European Commission follows a series of high-level meetings and technical group discussions involving Western Balkan countries, as a part of the Western Balkans Payment Systems Modernization project, where Kosovo was represented by the Central Bank, founded by the European Union and implemented by the World Bank in coordination with the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), with the support of governments under the Berlin Process.

The Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo submitted a completed pre-application for SEPA membership on December 20, 2024, and is now awaiting preliminary evaluations to proceed with the final application for membership, in accordance with the CBK’s Strategic Plan.

The Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo is committed to collaborating within such European Union initiatives, which directly contribute to advancing our integration into the EU’s single financial market, whereas is working intensively to enhance the relevant regulatory and technical infrastructure in order to utilise all benefits which bring to the citizens and the country’s economy alongside the financial sector.