Our extensive knowledge at your fingertips
Europe
This section covers AML/CTF initiatives by European Commission, Council of Europe MONEYVAL, European Parliament, Europol and other related EU organisations.
New EU AML Package
Sixth EU ML Directive
Fifth EU ML Directive
Fourth EU ML Directive
Third EU ML Directive
European Commission Financial Crime
European Parliament Committee on Organised Crime, Corruption and ML
European Banking Federation Annual Overview of AML legislative measures
Europol Law Enforcement updates
MONEYVAL Evaluations
MONEYVAL Typologies
And many more…
Sections
Latest editions
Search
Topics
- Topics
- Accountability
- AML/CTF
- AML/CTF compliance programme
- Anti-corruption
- Artificial intelligence
- Asset Recovery
- Beneficial Ownership
- Biodiversity
- Blockchain
- Bribery & Corruption
- Bribes
- CDD
- Complex structures
- Confiscation & Freezing
- conflict minerals
- Conflict of Interest
- Correspondent Banking
- Corruption
- Counterfeiting
- Crime
- Cross-border finance
- Cryptoassets
- Cryptocurrencies
- Cybercrime
- Data Protection
- Deepfakes
- Democracy
- Digital assets
- Digitalisation
- Drug Trafficking
- EDD
- Enforcement
- Environmental crime
- ESG
- Ethics
- EU ML Directive
- FCPA
- Financial Crime
- Financial Inclusion & Literacy
- Financial Sanctions
- Fines & Enforcements
- FinTech
- FIU
- Fraud
- Gambling
- Greenwashing
- Human Rights
- Human Trafficking
- Illicit Finance
- Illicit Trafficking
- Information Sharing
- Integrity
- Intellectual property
- Investigations
- kleptocracy
- KYC
- Land justice
- Machine Learning
- market manipulation
- Modern Slavery
- Money Laundering (ML)
- NPOs
- Offshore
- OHCHR
- Onboarding
- Organised crime
- Other
- Payments
- PEPs
- Proliferation
- Proliferation of WMD
- Public Officials
- Ransomware
- RegTech
- Risk
- robotics
- Sanctions
- Senior Managers & Certification Regime (SMCR)
- Shell Companies
- Source of wealth & funds
- Stablecoins
- Supervision
- Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs)
- Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs)
- Tax
- Tax Evasion
- Technology
- Terrorist Financing
- Trade Finance
- Trafficking
- Transaction Monitoring
- Transfers
- Transnational crime
- Transparency
- Travel
- Unexplained Wealth Order
- Virtual Assets
- Virtual currencies
- Whistleblowing
- Wildlife crime
Industry
Organisation
- Organisation
- ABA
- AFA
- AFME
- Afripol
- AMLA
- AMLP
- APPG
- ASC
- Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering
- ASIC
- Atlantic Council
- AUSTRAC
- Austria FMA
- B20
- BAFIN
- BAFM
- Bank of England
- Basel
- BGC
- BIS
- BMA
- BoIJ
- CBUAE
- CCAF
- CFATF
- Charity Commission
- Chatham House
- City of London Police
- CMA
- Companies House
- Corruption Watch
- Council of Europe
- Council of the EU
- CPA
- CPS
- CSSF
- DEA
- Department of Business
- DFSA
- DIT
- DRCF
- EBA
- EBF
- ECB
- EFCC
- EGBA
- Egmont Group
- EPPO
- ESA
- ESAAMLG
- ESMA
- EUDA
- Eurojust
- EuroPAM
- European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
- European Commission
- European Council
- European Parliament
- European Union (EU)
- Europol
- FATF
- FBI
- FCA
- FCDO
- FCO
- FDIC
- Federal Reserve
- Fenergo
- FFIS
- FIAU
- FinCEN
- FINMA
- FINRA
- FINTRAC
- FIU
- FIU-IND
- FRA
- FSA / FCA
- FSB
- FSC
- FSMA
- G20
- G7
- GABAC
- GAFILAT
- Gambling Commission
- GASA
- GCFCC
- GFI
- GI-TOC
- GIABA
- Global Initiative
- Global Integrity
- Global Witness
- GRECO
- GRETA
- HKMA
- HKSFC
- HM Treasury
- HMCPSI
- HMRC
- Home Office
- House of Commons
- House of Lords
- ICAEW
- ICC
- ICE
- ICIJ
- ICO
- IDB
- IMF
- IMLIT
- Insurance Europe
- Interpol
- IOM FSA
- IPO
- ISO
- J5
- JFSC
- JMLSG
- KoFIU
- KSA
- Law Commission
- Law Society
- MAS
- MENAFATF
- Met Police
- MONEYVAL
- NAO
- NASC
- Nasdaq Verafin
- Nature Needs More
- NCA
- NECC
- NED
- Netherlands FIOD
- Nice Actimize
- NYDFS
- OAG
- OCC
- OCCRP
- OECD
- OFAC
- OFSI
- OLAF
- OPBAS
- OSCE
- Other
- OTSI
- PNF
- PRA
- project CRAAFT
- PSR
- PwC
- RBI
- RUSI
- Sayari
- SEBI
- SEC
- SEPA
- SFO
- Singapore Police Force
- Spotlight on corruption
- SRA
- Sweden FI
- Swiss Federal Council
- Swiss OAG
- Tax Justice Network
- TFG
- TRACE
- TRACFIN
- Traffic
- Transparency International
- TRNC
- TRP
- UK Border Force
- UK Finance
- UK Govt
- UK Police Foundation
- UKACC
- UKPI
- UN
- UNODC
- US BIS
- US DEA
- Us DoC
- US DoJ
- US DoS
- US Govt
- US Sec
- US Senate
- US Treasury
- USAID
- VISA
- Wall Street Journal
- WCO
- White House
- Wolfsberg
- World Bank
Jurisdiction
- Jurisdiction
- Afghanistan
- Andorra
- Asia
- Australia
- Austria
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Berlin
- Bermuda
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Cayman Islands
- China
- Colombia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- EU
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Ghana
- Gibraltar
- Global
- Greece
- Guernsey
- Hong Kong
- India
- Iran
- Ireland
- Isle of Man
- Israel
- Japan
- Jersey
- Kenya
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Mauritiania
- Mexico
- Middle East
- Monaco
- Myanmar
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Nigeria
- North Korea
- Norway
- Other
- Poland
- Romania
- Russia
- San Marino
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Africa
- Spain
- Sudan
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- UAE
- UK
- Ukraine
- Uruguay
- US
- Uzbekistan
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
EBA’s Final review of EU banks’ efforts against ML/TF notes significant progress in risk-based supervision
The Report highlights good practices, for example in relation to cooperation and risk assessments, which reflect the positive changes in supervisory approaches. Nonetheless, the EBA continued to find weaknesses in competent authorities’ risk assessment methodologies and enforcement processes not being fully effective or deterrent, including divergent approaches in the way prudential…
Europol analyses major trends and developments in jihadist propaganda from January 1 to December 31, 2023, focusing on ISIS and al-Qaeda
Report examine the trajectories of these groups, their responses to shifting dynamics, and their attempts to overcome setbacks. It also identifies the both types of and dominant themes within material produced by the two groups during this period, while highlighting changes in key areas related to online jihadist propaganda, such as main narratives and the abuse of technology for propaganda dissemination.
EBA finds that colleges on anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism have become more effective but further progress is needed
In its fourth Report on the functioning of AML/CFT colleges, the EBA highlights continued improvements in 2023 but identifying key areas needing further progress.
Eurojust suspects four have been arrested for the illegal export of archaeological treasures
The group employed grave robbers and forged documents to facilitate the illegal export of these items which were later sold through a fake auction house in Belgium. Over several years the operation caused significant cultural damage and generated illegal profits. A coordinated effort across Europe including Italy, Belgium, Germany, and Spain, led to multiple arrests and the recovery of valuable items including a Roman sarcophagus and Etruscan…
The Council of Europe concludes that Poland has enhanced its measures to address ML/TF risks, including management of related statistics, and closed key compliance gaps in its AML/CFT framework
Poland has notably improved its national risk assessments boosted the resources of key agencies and refined its data collection on suspicious activities. Poland’s alignment with FATF standards has progressed with significant improvements in compliance for risk-based approaches and statistical management. However, there is still work to be done in areas such as financial institutions and the use of new technologies…
EU regulators report 771 AML violations at 256 FIs on the EBA’s EuReCA database in 2024, highlighting RegTech failures
The European Banking Authority published its final review on competent authorities’ efforts to combat ML/TF in the banking sector. While significant progress has been made since 2018 weaknesses remain in risk assessment and enforcement processes. The EBA emphasized the importance of cooperation and consistent approaches across jurisdictions. A final review in 2025 will evaluate the effectiveness of actions taken by authorities…
ESA issues Guidelines to standardise Crypto-Asset classification under MiCAR, aiming to enhance consistency, consumer protection, and preventing regulatory arbitrage, effective March 2025
The Guidelines require market participants to submit a legal opinion with the white paper for asset-referenced tokens (ARTs) clarifying that the crypto-asset is not an electronic money token (EMT) or excluded from MiCAR. Similarly, for crypto-assets not classified as ARTs or EMTs, the white paper must include an explanation confirming the asset’s classification under MiCAR.
EBA proposes criteria for Crypto-Asset Service Providers to appoint Central Contact Points in each host country to combat ML/TF
The CCP will act as a liaison between crypto businesses and local regulators, ensuring compliance with strict AML and CFT standards. The consultation is open until February 4, 2025, and seeks feedback on ensuring CASPs comply with local AML and CFT obligations. CASPs operating in other Member States, even without branches, must still meet local AML/CFT requirements. The draft RTS outlines the criteria for when CASPs must appoint a CCP and the role of these CCPs in facilitating compliance. The EBA’s proposal draws on existing regulations for Electronic Money Issuers (EMIs) and Payment Service Providers (PSPs), while adding tailored provisions for the unique challenges faced by CASPs..
EU Council approves the first of two sets of conclusions on strengthening joint counterterrorism efforts
The conclusions set strategic goals and highlight key areas where increased efforts are needed to enhance operational efficiency. The aim of the conclusions is to shape EU counterterrorism policies and measures for the next five years. To further enhance counterterrorism measures, on 16 December 2024 the Council will approve conclusions on reinforcing external-internal connections in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism…
Eurojust and Europol support Albanian and Kosovon Authorities to dismantle an arms and drug trafficking network
The criminal gang was responsible for the import, export, supply, transport and sale of weapons and explosive materials from Kosovo to Albania. It is suspected that the gang intended to set up a trafficking route towards the European Union. In addition to arms trafficking, the gang also trafficked drugs, mainly cocaine, from Albania to Kosovo…
Eurojust leads international coordinated operation to shut down ‘MATRIX’, an encrypted messaging platform linked to drug trafficking, arms smuggling and ML
Over 2.3 million messages in 33 languages were intercepted during a three-month investigation. Coordinated actions on December 3 in four countries resulted in arrests, searches, and the seizure of EUR 645,000 in cash and cryptocurrency, cars, and a villa valued at EUR 15 million. The operation involved key agencies from France, the Netherlands, Spain, Lithuania, Germany, and Italy. Europol’s Operational Task Force continues to assist follow-up investigations stemming from the operation…
MONEYVAL’s follow-up report highlights that Georgia’s 2024 AML amendments addressed key deficiencies in risk assessment and virtual asset regulations but still require further progress
As a result, the country has been re-rated from “partially compliant” to “largely compliant” on two Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) recommendations which concern assessing risks and new technologies. Overall, out of the 40 recommendations provided in 2022, Georgia currently has been rated: “compliant” on seven recommendations, “largely compliant” on twenty-four recommendations, “partially compliant” on eight recommendations, and “non-compliant” on one recommendation, that related to non-profit organisations…