Preparatory Workshop held on technical aspects of SEPA membership – CBK committed to advancing human and technical capacities

The Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo (CBK) in cooperation with the World Bank (WB), today organized a preparatory workshop focused on discussing the technical aspects of joining the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), as part of the ongoing efforts of the National Payments Council.

The workshop opened with welcoming remarks from CBK Governor Mr. Ahmet Ismaili and Ms. Martha Licetti, Practice Manager for Finance, Competitiveness, and Innovation at the World Bank. They emphasized the importance of this process for the stability and modernization of Kosovo’s financial system, as well as the continued support of international partners in this direction. The speakers also highlighted the need for adequate planning, effective communication among payment system participants and the general public, and managing expectations and public benefits.

The event brought together representatives from European Union partners, including the European Payments Council (EPC) and the European Central Bank, alongside WB experts, representatives of international financial institutions, and representatives from banks and non-bank financial institutions.

Key contributions came through presentations and discussions by Mr. Bernardo Correia Barradas, Mr. Peter Møller Jensen, and Mr. Claudio Ceresani from the World Bank, Ms. Silvia Di Lillo from the European Payments Council (EPC), Mr. Fabrizio Dinacci from the European Central Bank, Claudio Ceresani, and representatives from other international banks and institutions.

The workshop discussions focused on identifying the technical, operational, and legal requirements for SEPA connectivity, as a crucial step towards building a modern, sustainable, and European-standard-compliant payments infrastructure for secure and efficient transactions.

Participants from financial institutions had the opportunity to engage in in-depth discussions about the process, requirements, and experiences, contributing to the development of both human and technical capacities. These preparations were informed by the experiences of other countries that have successfully gone through this process, as presented by the experts in attendance.

While the progress achieved in this regard was highly praised and the work carried out by the CBK as the process leader was acknowledged, it was concluded that this workshop served as a key milestone in preparing for SEPA membership and an important platform for exchanging technical knowledge and practical support on the path toward an advanced and integrated payments system in Kosovo.