Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo advances National Anti-Counterfeiting Centre plans in talks with Italy’s Carabinieri anti-counterfeiting command

The Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo hosted General Gianluca Vitagliano of the Carabinieri Command against Monetary Counterfeiting under the EU Pericles programme, focusing on deepening operational cooperation to prevent and combat currency counterfeiting, particularly of the euro. Governor Ahmet Ismaili outlined the central bank’s mandate and work on AML/CFT and anti-counterfeiting, alongside updates on payments developments including SEPA integration and a new fast payments infrastructure. The central bank reported progress in drafting legislation to establish a National Centre Against Money Counterfeiting within the central bank, supported by the Croatian National Bank and the EU Office in Pristina through the EU’s TAIEX programme, and discussed an European Commission co-financed project to strengthen cooperation with Kosovo authorities and build professional capacity to prevent and identify counterfeits. The discussions also highlighted areas to be addressed relating to crypto-assets and other digital instruments. The central bank also referenced an agreement signed in August 2025 with the European Central Bank on combating euro banknote counterfeiting, which is intended to provide access to the ECB’s operational mechanisms and integrate Kosovo’s central bank into professional cooperation networks involving Eurosystem central banks and partner institutions outside the euro area, including in the Western Balkans.