CBCG INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE: Joint Institutional Action as the Strongest Response to Financial Crime
30/09/2026
The Central Bank of Montenegro (CBCG) hosted an international conference in Podgorica today entitled “Understanding and Detecting Financial Crime Ecosystems: From Risk-Based Compliance to Effective AML/CFT Supervision”.
The conference brought together representatives of leading European and international institutions and experts in anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT), including representatives of the European Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA), the Council of Europe’s MONEYVAL and the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA), as well as representatives of central banks and supervisory authorities from the European Union and the region.
Opening the conference, CBCG Governor Dr Irena Radović emphasised that increasingly sophisticated forms of financial crime require stronger institutions, better information-sharing and much closer cooperation among competent authorities, both within and across national borders.
“Strong institutions do not wait for risks to materialise before taking action. They identify risks early, connect information and continuously adapt their responses to changing circumstances,” Governor Radović stated.
She noted that financial crime now transcends individual jurisdictions, institutions and technologies, while the information needed for its timely detection is often dispersed across different authorities and systems.
“Our response must therefore be one of collective action, bringing together strong supervision, better financial intelligence, effective law enforcement, efficient anti-corruption institutions, and national, regional and European authorities capable of operating as parts of a single financial integrity ecosystem,” the Governor stressed.
Addressing the significance of these issues for Montenegro and the wider region, Governor Radović highlighted that building an effective AML/CFT framework is also an important part of the European integration process.
“In practice, European integration means not only adopting common rules, but also building institutions capable of acting together effectively when those rules are put to the test,” Governor Radović concluded.
The conference focused on strengthening the integrity of the financial system in the face of increasingly complex financial crime risks, developing effective risk-based supervision, and enhancing cooperation among regulatory, supervisory, financial intelligence and other competent authorities.
Particular attention was devoted to the EU’s new AML/CFT framework and the role of AMLA, the effectiveness requirements for national AML/CFT systems assessed by MONEYVAL, and the practical experience of supervisory authorities in identifying, assessing and managing money laundering and terrorist financing risks.
The conference also provided an opportunity to exchange experiences and best practices on strengthening interinstitutional cooperation, connecting information held by different authorities, and developing supervisory approaches that enable earlier risk identification and a more effective response to financial crime.
Video:
Governor Radović’s opening address: Governor Dr Irena Radović | Opening of the International AML/CFT Conference
Cover videos CBCG International AML/CFT Conference | Cover videos