Burkhart Balc, Executive Board Member of Germany’s Deutsche Bundesbank, paid an official visit to the Central Bank of Montenegro (CBCG), where he met with Governor Irena Radović and her team. Discussions focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation, particularly in enhancing CBCG’s institutional and regulatory capacities in line with EU integration and European Central Bank standards.
Governor Radović emphasized that EU reforms are a strategic priority for CBCG, highlighting measurable progress in 19 months — including contributions to nine negotiation chapters, joining the SEPA payment system, and preparations for the TIPS platform. She also noted strong anti-money laundering efforts and praised ongoing support from the Bundesbank.
The visit underscored the importance of two upcoming projects: the third phase of the regional IPA program led by the Bundesbank, and a new EU Twinning project launching in September 2025 to align Montenegro’s financial regulations with EU banking supervision and payment system standards.
Balc commended Montenegro’s reform progress and highlighted central bank independence as crucial for economic stability and EU accession. Both sides agreed to deepen cooperation through knowledge sharing in banking, payments infrastructure, and financial stability.
The visit builds on Governor Radović’s December 2024 visit to the Bundesbank, hosted by President Joachim Nagel.
