Representatives of Working Group 17 of the National Convention on the European Union participated on September 2, 2026, in Belgrade in consultations with a delegation of the European Commission's expert mission on the independence of the National Bank of Serbia.
The mission is being implemented within the framework of the instrument TAIEX (Technical Assistance and Information Exchange), as support for the process of Serbia's alignment with the European Union's acquis communautaire within Chapter 17 – Economic and Monetary Policy. Its goal is to provide expert support for further strengthening the legal and institutional guarantees of the central bank's independence.
During the consultations, representatives of Working Group 17 presented relevant examples for assessing the de facto independence of the NBS, including the resilience of institutional decision-making to undue influence from the executive branch and other political actors.
Representatives of the Working Group also pointed out the possible consequences of insufficient institutional distance and transparency in NBS decision-making. The risks of such NBS management were particularly highlighted regarding the availability of financing for small and medium-sized enterprises, the credibility of the policy aimed at inflation control, as well as the predictability and long-term sustainability of the way the relative stability of the dinar exchange rate is maintained.
Working Group 17 will continue to monitor reforms in the field of economic and monetary policy and contribute to Serbia's alignment with European Union standards through analytical work and expert dialogue.
