Governor Sejko thanked Mr. Cipollone for participating in this activity and for the continued cooperation between the Bank of Albania and the European Central Bank.

He highlighted the role of the European Central Bank as a successful example of institutional cooperation at the European level and as an important partner in Albania's European integration process.

In this context, Governor Sejko emphasized the Bank of Albania's commitment to further aligning the legislation and regulatory framework in its areas of competence with the European Union acquis .

He underlined that this process constitutes an institutional priority, which combines the improvement of the legal framework with the strengthening of capacities for its implementation and the adoption of best European practices. This work aims to support the fulfillment of the obligations arising from the membership process and to strengthen the foundations of a sustainable financial system increasingly integrated with the European market.

Governor Sejko presented Mr. Cipollone with economic developments in the country, emphasizing that the Albanian economy has continued to demonstrate stability and positive performance.

The expansion of economic activity is supported by consumption, investment, tourism and a healthy banking sector, while inflation has returned to near the Bank of Albania's target.

During the meeting, special attention was paid to the modernization of the payments infrastructure in Albania, in order to increase efficiency, reduce costs and expand access of citizens and businesses to financial services.

The Governor emphasized that participation in the Single Euro Payments Area, SEPA, has already enabled the reduction of costs and shortening of transfer times, encouraging the use of digital and formal payment channels.

He then focused on the implementation of the TIPS Clone project, as another important step aimed at creating a national platform for instant payments, in line with European standards and which will operate in real time, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, while simultaneously creating conditions for the further development of cross-border payments.

In this context, the Governor expressed his gratitude for the support of the Bank of Italy, as well as for the personal commitment of Mr. Cipollone as an initiator of the TIPS Clone project, making a valuable contribution to its advancement.

The Governor emphasized that these initiatives are part of a broader commitment to deepen Albania's financial integration with the European Union. Participation in SEPA and the development of the instant payments infrastructure create concrete links between the Albanian and European financial markets, facilitating transactions, supporting trade and investment, and bringing financial services for citizens and businesses closer to the standards of the common market. In this way, the Bank of Albania contributes to transforming the European integration process into tangible benefits for the economy and the public.

For his part, Mr. Cipollone praised the Bank of Albania's commitment to modernizing the payments market and aligning it with European standards. He stressed the importance of developing secure, efficient and accessible services, as well as institutional cooperation to advance Albania's financial integration with the European Union.

The meeting also addressed the importance of central bank independence for fulfilling its mandate, maintaining price stability and strengthening public confidence. Mr. Cipollone stressed that the European Union needs independent central banks and that this belief is widely shared within the European System of Central Banks.

He underlined that the central bank is a fundamental institution for a country's economy and that its independence constitutes an essential condition for strengthening its authority, credibility and institutional reputation.

The European Commission has assessed the new law of the Bank of Albania regarding the alignment with European standards for central bank independence and the prohibition of monetary financing of the public sector, highlighting it as an important step towards meeting European standards in the field of monetary policy.

In conclusion, Governor Sejko emphasized the importance of continuing and deepening cooperation with the European Central Bank, in order to advance reforms and accelerate Albania's European integration process.