Governor Radović Meets the Ambassador of France: European Integration Delivers Tangible Benefits for Citizens and Businesses
25/09/2026
CBCG Governor Dr Irena Radović met with the newly appointed Ambassador of the French Republic to Montenegro, H.E. Cécile Humbert-Bouvier, to discuss Montenegro’s European perspective, economic reforms in the final stages of the EU accession process, and the CBCG’s preparations for future membership of the European System of Central Banks (ESCB).
Governor Radović wished H.E Ambassador a successful tenure, highlighting France’s importance as a key European partner for Montenegro and expressing her expectation that cooperation would be further strengthened during her term of office.
“Montenegro is entering a crucial phase of its European integration journey. For the CBCG, this process is no longer simply about aligning legislation with European standards. Above all, it is about building an institution fully capable of fulfilling its future responsibilities within the European institutional framework from the very first day of EU membership,” the Governor stated.
In this context, discussions focused on the CBCG’s activities under negotiating Chapter 9 – Financial Services and Chapter 17 – Economic and Monetary Policy, in which it leads the integration process, as well as its intensive preparations for future participation in the ESCB. The Governor outlined the implementation of recommendations arising from the comprehensive needs assessment of the CBCG, conducted in cooperation with the central banks of the Netherlands and Belgium, with support from the Deutsche Bundesbank and financial assistance from the European Commission during the project's second phase. Particular emphasis was placed on further strengthening institutional and human resource capacities, IT infrastructure and cyber resilience, payment infrastructure, supervision and other functions relevant to European integration.
The discussions also highlighted that the benefits of European integration are already being felt in tangible ways through Montenegro’s inclusion in the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) and the development of modern instant payment infrastructure.
“Our goal is to ensure that European integration does not remain an abstract institutional process. Its benefits must be visible in everyday life through lower costs, faster and more secure transactions, stronger institutions and better financial services for citizens and businesses,” Governor Radović emphasised.
The Governor and the Ambassador also exchanged views on the broader economic challenges associated with EU accession, particularly the need to strengthen productivity, competitiveness and institutional resilience, ensuring that nominal convergence is accompanied by sustainable real convergence of the Montenegrin economy.
Both parties expressed their readiness to further deepen cooperation between the CBCG and French institutions, including the Banque de France, through the exchange of knowledge and experience in areas relevant to the CBCG’s future membership of the ESCB.
Governor Radović and H.E. Ambassador Humbert-Bouvier agreed to maintain an open and regular dialogue on matters of mutual interest, particularly as Montenegro’s European integration process gathers momentum.