Governor Selimović at a meeting about the integration of the Western Balkans and Moldova into SEPA

Today, the Governor of the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jasmina Selimović, Ph.D., participated with her associates at the meeting of the SEPA Steering Group, which brings together the Governors of the Central Banks of the Western Balkans and Moldova, representatives of the European Payments Council (EPC), the European Central Bank (ECB) and the World Bank, under the leadership of the Director General of the Directorate General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR), Mr. Gert Jan Koopman.

The aim of the established SEPA Steering Group is to monitor the process of implementing the SEPA schemes and provide a platform for the exchange of experiences and cooperation in overcoming the challenges following the harmonization with European regulations and fulfilling the requirements of the EPC.

Director General Mr. Gert Jan Koopman gave an introductory speech, emphasizing the importance of the integration of the Western Balkans and Moldova into the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA). It was emphasized that harmonization with SEPA standards is one of the priorities of the economic plans for the growth of the region.

Representatives of Central Banks presented the current status of adaptation to SEPA requirements and the challenges they face in the process of harmonizing payment systems. Representatives of the EPC and the ECB shared their experiences and made recommendations for accelerating the process of joining SEPA schemes.

The meeting discussed the key steps that banks and other payment service providers need to take to become part of the SEPA network. It was concluded that coordination and active support of all parties involved are necessary to ensure the successful integration of the payment systems of the Western Balkans and Moldova into the SEPA framework.

This meeting marks an important step in the process of integrating the region with the European payments market, which will bring numerous benefits to citizens and the business community.