Bank of Albania Governor joins Central Bank leaders in Montenegro

On September 3–4, 2026, Governor of the Bank of Albania Gent Sejko participated in a high-level conference organised by the Central Bank of Montenegro to mark the 25th anniversary of its establishment.

The conference brought together central bank governors and senior experts to discuss the challenges currently facing central banks amid complex developments and heightened uncertainty, CE Report informs via the Bank of Albania's official website.

Governor Sejko was invited as a speaker on the panel titled “Credibility, Monetary Policy Space and EU Convergence in a Challenging Environment”, alongside the governors of the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo, the Central Bank of Montenegro and the National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia.

In his remarks, Governor Sejko stressed the importance of central bank credibility, describing it as essential for strengthening institutions and ensuring the effective implementation of monetary policy.

He noted that recent years have demonstrated the crucial role of credibility in anchoring expectations, maintaining confidence and supporting macroeconomic stability in the face of successive shocks. He emphasised that trust is built on a strong institutional framework, consistent policies and clear, transparent and effective communication with the public.

Referring to the experience of the Bank of Albania, Governor Sejko highlighted the importance of maintaining a clear monetary policy framework anchored in an inflation-targeting regime and supported by a flexible exchange-rate regime. He also pointed to reforms aimed at strengthening the resilience of the financial system, including improvements to the lending environment and the modernisation of payment infrastructure, including Albania’s membership in SEPA.

Another topic discussed was alignment with the European Union’s regulatory framework and maintaining macroeconomic and financial stability throughout the reform process. Governor Sejko stressed that European integration and central banks’ mandates to preserve monetary and financial stability complement each other. Alignment with EU standards also contributes to improving the effectiveness of central bank policies.

In this regard, Governor Sejko outlined several priorities for the Bank of Albania in aligning with European standards. These include harmonising the legal framework with that of the European System of Central Banks, bringing the supervisory and regulatory framework into line with Basel III standards and EU best practices, and modernising financial infrastructure. He stressed that joining SEPA represents an important step towards further integrating Albania into Europe’s financial infrastructure.

He also underlined the importance of implementing the TIPS Clone platform, a clone of the European instant payments system that will generate savings in both time and costs for Albanian consumers, individuals and businesses. The platform is expected to be implemented in Albania by the end of this year.

Governor Sejko also held a meeting with Mateusz Szczurek, Director of the European Department at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). They exchanged views on economic and financial developments in the region, the European integration process and the challenges associated with it.

During his participation in the event, Governor Sejko also held a series of bilateral meetings with IMF representatives and governors of other central banks, discussing issues of common interest and ways to strengthen inter-institutional cooperation.

Photo Bank of Albania