The Governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo (CBK), Ahmet Ismaili, together with the deputy governors, received in a meeting Burkhard Balz, member of the Executive Board of the German Bundesbank, who was on an official visit to Kosovo – the first of this high level from this prestigious German bank.
During the meeting, Governor Ismaili and Mr. Balz discussed the close relationship and long-term cooperation between the CBK and the Bundesbank, with a particular focus on monetary reserve management, financial operations and institutional capacity building.
Governor Ismaili expressed his gratitude for the professional partnership with the Bundesbank, highlighting its role in operating the Eurosystem repo line for the CBK – a key mechanism in maintaining liquidity and financial stability.
Following the discussions, the Governor informed the German delegation about recent developments in Kosovo’s financial sector and the structural reforms that have been undertaken to strengthen financial stability, modernize the payment infrastructure, and align the legal and regulatory framework with European Union standards.
Ismaili also reconfirmed Kosovo’s goal to join the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), emphasizing the importance of support from European partners, including the Bundesbank, in this strategic process.
This visit follows the recent meeting between Governor Ismaili and Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel, which was held at the Bundesbank headquarters in Frankfurt, and is evidence of the deepening institutional ties and sustainable cooperation between the two central banks.
In conclusion, both parties highly appreciated the support being provided through the European Union-funded program “Central Bank Capacity Building Program in the Western Balkans”, implemented by the Bundesbank in cooperation with the Eurosystem central banks. The parties also expressed their willingness to further advance cooperation in other areas of common interest.