EFDI EU Joint Working Group Meetings in Jahorina 15-16 October
Jahorina, 16 October 2026
The European Forum of Deposit Insurers (EFDI) held the joint meetings of its Stress-Test Working Group (STWG), H2C Communications Subgroup and Public Relations and Communications Committee (PRC) on 15–16 October 2026 in Jahorina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, hosted by the Deposit Insurance Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The meetings brought together representatives from more than 15 countries, with 44 participants attending in person and online attendance reaching 38 participants at one point during the programme. Over two days, participants exchanged experiences and discussed practical approaches to strengthening deposit guarantee schemes’ preparedness, public awareness and crisis communication.
The first day opened with the Stress-Test Working Group, led by José María Fernández from the Spanish Deposit Guarantee Scheme, FGD. Fanni Teinilä, Legal Counsel at the Finnish Financial Stability Authority, presented bank crisis management capabilities, followed by Borja Peletero, Senior Policy Expert at the European Banking Authority, who discussed the EBA’s approach to stress testing. Constantinos Christoforides from the European Central Bank addressed threat-led penetration testing for banks under the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA).
Gianluca Grasso, Head of Risk Analysis and Management of Institutional Interventions at Italy’s Fondo Interbancario di Tutela dei Depositi (FITD), presented the scheme’s early warning system.
Finally Gorana Krunić, Advisor for Development matters, presented main features of the Deposit Insurance Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (DIA BiH) in connection with the risk based premium and stress testing in the DIA BiH.
The afternoon focused on the H2C Communications Subgroup, led by Co-Leaders Zuzana Suchá and Robert Meulenbroek. Discussions addressed the revision of Chapter 6 of the H2C Rulebook and related communication issues, supporting further cooperation between home and host deposit guarantee schemes.
The second day was dedicated to the Public Relations and Communications Committee, chaired by Sylvie Godron-de Maintenant of France’s Fonds de Garantie des Dépôts et de Résolution (FGDR). Sanja Stanković-Trubajić, Senior Advisor at the Deposit Insurance Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, presented the Agency and its communication activities. Kralja Chesmadjiska, Head of the Department for Compensation at FODSK, North Macedonia, shared experiences concerning public awareness activities.
The programme then explored the use of artificial intelligence in communication, with contributions from Alessio Greco of the EFDI Fintech Working Group and Sylvie Godron-de Maintenant, who presented the FGDR’s voicebot project. A two-part workshop on crisis communication preparedness provided an opportunity to review and discuss press release templates for a payout.
Members also shared further communication initiatives. Roxana Chinole, Senior Advisor at Romania’s FGDB, presented website modernisation activities, while Anna Czyz, Head of Communication and Education at Poland’s BFG, presented the Safe Bank journal. Robert Meulenbroek, Senior Communication Advisor at De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB), contributed to the exchange on communication activities. EFDI Secretary General Carlos Colao provided an update on the Secretariat’s work, followed by a review of members’ activities and the PRC roadmap.
The joint meetings underlined the value of bringing deposit guarantee schemes, banking supervisors and other institutional stakeholders together. Closer dialogue helps build a shared understanding of responsibilities and operational challenges, strengthen coordination and promote consistent approaches to depositor protection.
EFDI supports and encourages gatherings of this kind as an important part of its work to facilitate cooperation and the exchange of expertise. Involving banking supervisors and relevant stakeholders enriches these discussions and supports more effective joint work, a common understanding and a level playing field.
EFDI expresses its sincere thanks to the Deposit Insurance Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina for hosting the meetings, and particularly to Krešimir Šoljić, Director of the Agency; Irma Borovac, Director of the Sarajevo Branch Office; Nemanja Šobot, Director of the Banja Luka Branch Office; and Sanja Stanković-Trubajić and the entire organising team, for their excellent organisation, warm welcome and generous hospitality.
EFDI also thanks all Working Group and Committee leaders, speakers and participants for their valuable contributions. The productive discussions and opportunities to connect beyond the formal sessions strengthened the professional relationships that underpin effective cooperation across the EFDI network.
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