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EC reaffirms the EU’s anti-corruption drive at the June 2025 UNCAC Prevention WG, unveiling bold reforms targeting organised crime, whistle-blower protection, BO, and corporate integrity

June 18, 2025

Representing the EU and aligned countries, the EC highlighted recent legislative and strategic efforts, including the Rule of Law Reports, a forthcoming EU anti-corruption strategy, and enhanced frameworks tackling organised crime and corruption links. Key initiatives addressed include beneficial ownership transparency, whistleblower protection, integrity in public procurement, and private-sector accountability—each aligned with relevant UNCAC resolutions. The EU also stressed the importance of international cooperation through projects like CRIMJUST and called for continued global implementation of anti-corruption measures…

EP adopts tougher rules against child sexual abuse, targeting deepfakes, AI-generated content, and live-streamed crimes by broadening offences, increasing penalties, and removing reporting time limits

June 17, 2025

The European Parliament has adopted a strong position on updating EU child sexual abuse (CSA) laws, calling for tougher penalties, abolishing limitation periods, and expanding the legal scope to include AI-generated deepfakes and livestreamed abuse. The proposed directive aims to modernise CSA legislation, strengthen victim support, and enable more effective investigations, with trilogue negotiations set to begin on 23 June…

MONEYVAL commends Bulgaria’s improved AML/CFT compliance, particularly in risk-based supervision and data reporting, but notes gaps remain in enforcement, tech adoption, and sanctions

June 17, 2025

Bulgaria has enhanced its AML/CFT framework by improving compliance with FATF Recommendations on targeted financial sanctions, customer due diligence, beneficial ownership, DNFBP supervision, and guidance. While progress has been made, eight Recommendations remain partially compliant, and Bulgaria is expected to report further advancements to MONEYVAL within one year…

OLAF’s 2024 Annual Report uncovers over €870M in EU fund fraud, recommends €1bn in recoveries, prevents €43M in misuse, and reports major crackdowns on fraud, smuggling, counterfeiting, and ML

June 16, 2025

The agency closed 265 investigations and issued 309 recommendations, targeting fraud schemes involving procurement manipulation, customs evasion, smuggling, and counterfeiting. OLAF also tackled digital fraud and supported major cross-border cases, including a €9.5 million money laundering network tied to EU IT funds. Strengthened collaboration with EPPO and international partners marked a continued push to safeguard the EU budget through improved prevention, detection, and enforcement mechanisms…

EC’s 2025 State of the Digital Decade report flags key vulnerabilities in Europe’s digital ecosystem, citing reliance on foreign tech and weak cyber defences as entry points for cross-border FC and exploitation

June 16, 2025

The report also warns of increased risks from disinformation, online manipulation, and digital infrastructure dependencies that could be exploited by threat actors. To counter these gaps, the EC urges swift regulatory simplification and nearly €290 billion in strategic investment, including in secure technologies and cyber resilience, to reinforce the EU’s defences by 2030…

AMLA appoints former FATF President Juan-Manuel Vega Serrano as its new Vice-Chair, marking a decisive step towards reinforcing and unifying the EU’s fight against financial crime

June 13, 2025

With over 30 years of experience in public service and financial crime supervision, Vega Serrano has held key roles including head of Spain’s Financial Intelligence Unit and AML/CFT Supervisory Authority, and previously served as President of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). His appointment signals AMLA’s ambition to enhance strategic oversight and harmonised enforcement across EU member states from its Frankfurt headquarters…

Europol’s 2025 IOCTA report exposes how cybercriminals exploit stolen data, AI scams, deepfakes, and identity-masking tools to drive FC and evade detection across borders

June 12, 2025

The report details how cybercriminals operate within a thriving underground economy, leveraging Initial Access Brokers, malware-as-a-service platforms, and encrypted apps to trade credentials and exploit system vulnerabilities. Despite major takedowns like Operation Endgame, threats persist through digital skimming, CVE exploitation, and hybrid actors targeting critical infrastructure. Europol calls for stronger EU-wide frameworks on encrypted access, metadata retention, and public awareness to counter increasingly sophisticated digital threats…

EC removes the UAE from its high-risk money ML list, while simultaneously adding 10 jurisdictions including Monaco, Lebanon, Kenya, and Venezuela – raising the total to 27 high-risk countries

June 10, 2025

The European Commission has added Algeria, Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Laos, Lebanon, Monaco, Namibia, Nepal, and Venezuela to its list of high-risk third-country jurisdictions with strategic deficiencies in their AML/CFT regimes. Conversely, Barbados, Gibraltar, Jamaica, Panama, the Philippines, Senegal, Uganda, and the United Arab Emirates have been removed from the list following progress in addressing their identified shortcomings…

EU adopts an enhanced cyber crisis management blueprint to boost preparedness, detection capabilities, and drive cross-border action against large-scale complex cyber threats

June 6, 2025

Aligned with the NIS2 Directive and the Cyber Solidarity Act, the blueprint introduces a clear five-phase crisis lifecycle—detection, analysis, escalation, response, and recovery—while defining roles for key entities like ENISA, the CSIRTs Network, and EU-CyCLONe. It reinforces EU-wide cooperation, enhances threat detection, and ensures swift operational and political coordination across borders. With a focus on civil-military collaboration, public communication, and continuous improvement through a rolling annex, the blueprint marks a significant step…

Europol busts major cocaine ring in Spain’s Canary Islands – seizing 4 tons, arresting 50, and exposing cross-border ML schemes in a wake-up call for stronger FC enforcement

June 6, 2025

The investigation uncovered the use of hidden maritime routes and covert storage hubs to traffic large volumes of cocaine, with criminal proceeds likely funneled through a network of illicit financial channels across multiple EU countries. Europol’s coordination played a key role by facilitating cross-border intelligence sharing, improving both the efficiency and timing of enforcement actions…

EU sets out its International Digital Strategy to strengthen global ties, advance AI and cybersecurity, and bolster digital finance systems against illicit flows and cross-border FC

June 5, 2025

The European Commission and High Representative have unveiled the EU’s new International Digital Strategy, aiming to boost global digital partnerships, drive secure tech development, and promote a rules-based digital order aligned with EU values. Key priorities include AI, secure infrastructure, cybersecurity, and digital governance, with immediate steps toward implementation…

Europol’s Referral Action Day targets 2,000+ online extremist links in a coordinated push to disrupt youth radicalisation and combat terror-linked AML risks from illicit financing

June 3, 2025

The Referral Action Day took aim at online extremist content targeting minors, resulting in the referral of over 2,000 jihadist and right-wing propaganda links. The operation highlighted the increasing use of AI and emotionally manipulative content by terrorist groups to radicalise youth and is part of broader efforts to prevent the exploitation of minors in criminal and terrorist activities…

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