Sandra Švaljek, Deputy Governor of the Croatian National Bank, participated in the international conference "Future GREEN Business – HUMAN REVOLUTION", organised by the International Institute for Climate Action (IICA), which was dedicated to the role of the business and financial sectors in the development of a sustainable economy.

In her address Deputy Governor Švaljek referred to the appointment of Governor Boris Vujčić to the Executive Board of the European Central Bank, emphasising that this was a recognition not only of him personally, but also of the Croatian National Bank. She emphasised that the members of the Executive Board act in the interest of the entire euro area and that the preparation and operationalisation of decisions are just as important as their adoption.

Referring to the digital euro, she pointed out that it is a strategic project to strengthen the monetary sovereignty and resilience of the euro area, especially in the conditions of reduced use of cash and high dependence on non-European payment systems. The digital euro is conceived as "digital cash": central bank public money that combines the convenience of digital payments with security and privacy. The Eurosystem is continuing its preparations, and is expected to be ready for the experimental phase by 2027.

She went on to address climate change as an important environmental factor affecting price stability and financial stability. The CNB carries out climate stress tests to assess banks’ resilience to physical and transition risks, and regularly publishes the results. Deputy Governor Švaljek also emphasised the importance of international cooperation due to the complexity of the topic, particularly that carried out through relevant networks and initiatives.

In conclusion, she mentioned that the CNB is gradually integrating climate and environmental aspects into its operations, including reducing its own carbon footprint.