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Money Laundering & Terrorist Financing

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…

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ESA’s first report on DORA major ICT-related incidents finds 3,383 incidents were reported across the EU financial sector in 2025, with one-third having a cross-border impact, exposing gaps in FC controls

June 3, 2026

The ESAs’ first annual report on major ICT-related incidents under DORA covers 3,383 incidents reported across the EU financial sector in 2025, finding that risks are increasingly borderless and interconnected, although the direct impact on clients and transactions was generally limited. System failures and external events were the main drivers, while only 10% of reported incidents related to cybersecurity, prompting the authorities to stress stronger third-party risk management, oversight of outsourced services and resilience against emerging AI-enabled threats…

Europol’s Operation KRATOS 2, led by Bulgaria, dismantled illegal streaming networks, leading to 29 arrests, 9 organised crime groups disrupted and 86 suspects identified across multiple countries

June 3, 2026

The operation focused not only on shutting down websites but on disrupting the wider criminal ecosystem enabling the large-scale, cross-border distribution of pirated premium sports, film, and television content. Authorities uncovered complex technical infrastructures designed to evade detection, including separated hosting systems and distributed servers, and removed over 27,000 illegal streaming URLs. Europol played a key role in coordinating intelligence sharing, facilitating cross-border cooperation through SIENA, and supporting operational analysis to map the criminal networks…

EBA and NYDFS sign a landmark MoU on Stablecoins to strengthen cross-border oversight, information sharing, and regulatory cooperation against FC and emerging crypto risks

June 2, 2026

The MoU establishes a framework for the EBA and New York State Department of Financial Services to exchange supervisory and confidential information on stablecoin-related activities, co-ordinate oversight of supervised entities, identify market trends and risks, and support the integrity of the stablecoin market. It applies only to stablecoin activities, reflecting the growing cross-border importance of stablecoin issuers and the need for closer supervisory alignment between the EU’s MiCA framework and New York’s established stablecoin regime…

AMLA concludes its public hearing on the draft business-wide risk assessment Guidelines, drawing 1,000+ stakeholders to advance a harmonised EU AML RBA – feedback due by 15 July 2026

May 28, 2026

The draft Guidelines set out minimum requirements for firms to identify, assess and manage risks arising from their business models, customers, products, services, delivery channels and geographic exposure, while emphasising proportionality and firms’ responsibility to tailor assessments to their specific risk profiles. AMLA confirmed that feedback from the hearing will help shape the final standards, with the consultation remaining open until 15 July 2026….

AMLA hosts its First Conference ‘Building Trust, Enhancing Integrity’, in Frankfurt on 9 June 2026, and we are delighted that AMLP Forum will be attending

May 26, 2026

The event will explore major financial crime challenges, including the role of financial intelligence in combating organised crime, effective supervisory cooperation across jurisdictions, and the opportunities and risks created by emerging technologies in an increasingly complex financial crime landscape. Participants can express their interest in attending via AMLA’s official conference page…

AMLA to host a webinar on 10 June 2026, to guide firms and supervisors through the newly published reporting framework and selection criteria for identifying entities eligible for direct supervision from 2027

May 26, 2026
Scheduled for 10 June 2026 from 10:00 to 12:00 CEST, the session will explain the standardised reporting template and interpretative guidance that national supervisors and firms will use ahead of AMLA’s 2027 selection exercise, which will determine the institutions that may come under direct AMLA supervision from 2028, with participation open to all…

AMLA concludes public hearing on draft RTS for group-wide AML/CFT requirements, aimed at reinforcing cross-border AML controls and harmonising FC risk management – feedback open until 15 June 2026

May 22, 2026

The discussions focused on practical implementation of group-wide policies, information sharing, customer due diligence standards, and governance expectations for firms operating across multiple jurisdictions. AMLA also engaged stakeholders on proportionality, data protection, and supervisory consistency issues as part of broader efforts to create a harmonised and more effective EU AML/CFT supervisory framework…

Europol’s Project A.S.S.E.T. across 31 countries uncovered 884 bank accounts, 55 crypto wallets, 80 companies, and 44 properties (including 6 worth €5.64M) linked to organised crime and ML networks

May 22, 2026

The operation was supported by Eurojust, INTERPOL’s Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre (IFCACC), and key private sector partners from the financial services and cryptocurrency industries. The EPPO and AMLA also participated in the event. These figures represent a significant leap forward in the global effort to disrupt criminal networks and seize their illicit proceeds. The operation also highlighted several new trends and modi operandi in money laundering and financial crime, providing valuable insight for future investigations…

EC marks 10 years of the GDPR, highlighting its global impact in empowering citizens with stronger control over personal data and shaping a rights-based digital framework

May 22, 2026
It explains that GDPR established uniform EU-wide rights, including access to personal data, correction or deletion of information, and the ability to withdraw consent, with strict enforcement through national regulators and significant penalties for non-compliance. The article further places GDPR within a broader EU digital framework alongside the Digital Services Act, Digital Markets Act, and AI Act aimed at ensuring accountability for tech platforms, fair competition, and safe use of AI…

Europol dismantles ‘First VPN’, a cybercriminal network used by ransomware groups to conceal attacks, seizing 33 servers across 27 countries, identifying 506 users, and exposing 21 linked investigations 

May 21, 2026
For years, “First VPN” was promoted on Russian-language cybercrime forums as a trusted tool for evading law enforcement, offering anonymous payments, concealed infrastructure, and services tailored specifically for criminal use. Deeply embedded in the cybercrime ecosystem and frequently appearing in major Europol-supported investigations, it was widely used by offenders to hide their identities and operations while carrying out ransomware attacks, large-scale fraud, data theft, and other serious cybercrimes…

EC launches a €16.55M call for proposals to intensify cross-border intelligence and financial investigations to disrupt organised crime, drug trafficking and human trafficking networks

May 21, 2026

The initiative will fund a wide range of actors including law enforcement agencies, public authorities, civil society, and private partners—to develop tools and operational capabilities that help identify criminal structures, track illicit financial flows, and prevent the infiltration of legitimate economies by organised crime groups. A strong emphasis is placed on financial investigation capacity and cross-border cooperation, reflecting the reality that modern…

EC consults on the review of the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) to assess its effectiveness and emerging developments in crypto and tokenised asset markets, open until 31 Aug 2026

May 20, 2026

A key focus is whether the current rules remain appropriate given the rapid evolution of crypto markets, including new business models, technological innovation, and emerging risks such as market abuse, financial stability concerns, and cross-border regulatory challenges. The Commission will also consult with the European Banking Authority and ESMA to determine whether further policy or regulatory changes are needed to ensure MiCA remains fit for a rapidly changing, globally competitive digital asset landscape…

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