Podgorica, (MINA-BUISNESS) – Governor of the Central Bank (CBCG) Irena Radovic said that Montenegro remains strongly committed to its European path and the reforms necessary for EU membership, expressing appreciation for the continuous support from partners from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.

During the first day of the regular Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington, D. C., the CBCG delegation took part in a ministerial and governors’ event dedicated to the establishment of the IMF Regional Southeast Europe Technical Assistance Centre (SEETAC), which will be based in Rome and is set to begin operations in January 2027. 

The Chair of the session and Director of the IMF European Department, Alfred Kammer, presented the Centre’s work programme, which will provide expert support to the region in the areas of fiscal, monetary and financial policy, statistics, and institutional reforms, with a particular focus on capacity development and regional cooperation in the context of EU accession.

CBCG representatives also attended the IMF and World Bank Constituency meeting, chaired by Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Jan Jambon. 

Emphasizing that Montenegro remains strongly committed to its European path and the reforms necessary for EU membership, Radovic thanked partners within the Constituency for their continued support, particularly through the Needs Assessment project aimed at strengthening CBCG’s institutional readiness, implemented in cooperation with the central banks of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. 

Radovic also took part in a meeting of the Steering Committee of the Vienna Initiative, chaired by Boris Vujcic, Governor of the Croatian National Bank, to discuss current economic policy and financial stability challenges in Central, Eastern, and South-Eastern Europe. It was confirmed that Montenegro will host the Vienna Initiative meeting next year.

On the sidelines of the meetings, Governor Radović also met with the Governor of the Central Bank of Iceland, Asgeir Jonsson, to discuss common challenges faced by small and open economies in conditions of heightened global uncertainty. The discussion highlighted the importance of maintaining financial stability, as well as exchanging experiences in economic policymaking in a complex international environment.