EU funds Western Balkans central bank capacity building
Banca d'Italia hosted the launch of a three-year, €3 million EU-funded program on February 26, 2026. The initiative aims to strengthen central banks and banking supervisory authorities in the Western Balkans.
EU funds Western Balkans central bank capacity
Banca d'Italia hosted the launch event on February 26, 2026, for a new three-year EU-funded programme.
This initiative, phase three of a successful series, supports central banks and banking supervisory authorities in Western Balkan EU candidate countries and potential candidates.
The European Union funds the programme with a €3 million budget under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III).
Nineteen central banks from the European System of Central Banks (ESCB) are involved, with the European Central Bank also contributing.
The Deutsche Bundesbank acts as the programme coordinator.
Banca d'Italia Deputy Governor Chiara Scotti underlined the key role of international technical cooperation in strengthening institutions and reinforcing European values.
The programme includes 21 training events, two high-level policy workshops, one policy seminar, and six bilateral measures for each beneficiary institution, covering topics from payment systems to Suptech.
Building credible central banks
Giulio Venneri from the European Commission emphasized the central role of the rule of law in the enlargement process, highlighting the programme's contribution to building credible and independent central banks.
Martin Dinkelborg of the Deutsche Bundesbank noted the progress made by beneficiary institutions in aligning with EU standards and praised the cooperative nature of the initiative, where donors and beneficiaries collaborate on an equal footing.
The Programme Steering Committee meeting, held on the second day, focused on the project's institutional framework and financial arrangements.
Banca d'Italia will specifically organize a high-level meeting on payment systems, a training event on Suptech, and four bilateral activities with the central banks of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Serbia.
A bridge to European standards
This technical cooperation programme is a vital bridge for Western Balkan central banks towards integration into the European System of Central Banks.
By fostering the rule of law and independent institutions, it directly addresses foundational requirements for EU accession and regional stability.
Its success will be measured by the tangible strengthening of these central banks' resilience and credibility, extending beyond technical compliance in a complex geopolitical landscape.