The National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia held a meeting with the European Commission’s Director for the Western Balkans to review preparations for the country’s accession to the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) and related reforms in the payments domain. The central bank said it is working with the banking sector to ensure full readiness for integration by October 2025. Discussions covered follow-on activities needed for SEPA accession, which would allow North Macedonian banks to access European payment systems despite the country not being an EU member. The governor flagged that existing challenges still need to be addressed and said the central bank will support the transition through technical assistance and regulatory oversight, including through cooperation with international partners. The meeting also reviewed recent macroeconomic and banking-sector indicators and took stock of EU-supported projects aimed at aligning with European regulatory standards, with both sides signalling an intention to deepen cooperation.
National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia 2025-05-16
National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia sets October 2025 target for banks’ SEPA integration in talks with the European Commission
The National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia met with the European Commission’s Director for the Western Balkans to discuss preparations for the country's accession to the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) by October 2025. The central bank is collaborating with the banking sector to ensure readiness and will provide technical assistance and regulatory oversight. Discussions also covered macroeconomic indicators and EU-supported projects to align with European standards, aiming to enhance cooperation.