The EU GF-AML/CFT delivers training on the FATF Standards and assessment methodology, its role, objectives and modes of action.
We provide technical assistance on a wide range of topics. This is done through bilateral activities, regional activities and thematic activities. We also work very closely with other international institutions operating in the field of AML/CFT.
Areas of technical assistance
FATF:
Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing:
Our activities cover all aspects of anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism , ranging from trade based money laundering to AML risk management and financial institutions’ AML/CFT measures.
Financial sanctions, Asset Freezing and Recovery
The facility supports actors -such as judges and prosecutors – and administrative bodies involved in financial sanctions and asset freezing and recovery. This seeks to significantly improve prosecution, lawful restraint of assets and result in more proactive and greater asset recovery.
Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions:
The facility provides support to various businesses and professions notably in the gambling sector.
Beneficial ownership:
The EU GF-AML/CFT supports the reinforcement of frameworks developed for transparency and beneficial ownership for legal persons and legal arrangements, by identifying existing vulnerabilities and loopholes. This includes training on Ultimate Beneficial Ownership; Risk-Based Approach; Suspicious Transaction Report; Customer Due Diligence/Know Your Customer; Exchange of information on request.
Virtual assets:
New technologies such as bitcoin and blockchain provide innovation and market development. However, they also allow greater anonymity and give new opportunities to criminals to launder money and finance terrorism. The project works with countries and stakeholders to assess and analyse the AML/CFT impact of the development and use of virtual assets; mitigate risks; take preventive measures; and ensure coordination between competent authorities.
AML/CFT supervision:
The EU GF-AML/CFT delivers training on anti money laundering and counter terrorist financing supervisory plans and strategies, including in the banking sector.
Financial Intelligence:
Our experts provide technical assistance for the strengthening of individual Financial Intelligence Units, as well as promoting regional and international co-operation and interaction among these structures.
Law Enforcement Agency and Prosecution:
Our support covers all aspects of the law enforcement side of AML/CFT, focusing on intelligence and a multi-agency approach. Our experts seek to help enhance the operational connections between the various organisations involved.
The facility further operates through an innovative thematic approach to AML/CFT law enforcement with training on blood antiquities, conflict looting, canine cash detection, pharmaceutical fraud and prison financial intelligence, among others.
Judiciary:
The EU GF-AML/CFT works in close partnership with the International Association of Judges (IAJ), which is the global structure with currently 92 national associations of judges as member organisations. We work more specifically with the IAJ 3rd commission on areas related to mutual legal assistance and international cooperation, training of judges (initial and continuous), asset freezing, criminal law and procedures, among others.
FATF Recommendation 8 for NPOs:
The project cooperates with the Global NPO coalition on FATF, a semi-formal group of NPOs working to disseminate best practices on combatting the financing of terrorism in the NPO sector, and providing a forum for NPOs to inform and influence the global policy debate. We work specifically on ways to address the issue of money laundering and other serious financial abuse of the NPO sector. The global facility provides technical assistance in assessing whether national legislation is compatible with the FATF requirements regarding non-profit organisations, as well as with international human rights and humanitarian legal standard. Our experts subsequently support efforts by third countries to draft amendments to their legislation.
Media input to AML/CFT:
Our experts support journalists and media professionals to better investigate and report on AML/CFT matters.
Thematic areas of assistance
Tourism and AML/CFT:
The facility works with UNWTO, the main global organisation tackling issues related to the tourism industry. UNWTO sets the priorities, policies and new principles for the efficient functioning of the industry.
We provide technical assistance to the tourism industry actors to be well informed and protected from any potential abuse that their businesses may suffer from organised crime and individual criminals. This includes developing policy analysis and practical tools to support the tourism industry to handle AML/CFT issues.
Trade in blood antiquities and conflict looting:
Our experts work on the analysis of the blood antiquities and conflict looting phenomenon, most specifically on the AML/CFT measures required. They further promote dialogue between all industry actors and discussion about how AML/CFT regulation can be improved to counter criminal infiltration of the trade.
Development of the use of canine cash detection assets:
The project works with national law enforcement agencies to develop best practice guidelines for the use of dogs to combat money-laundering. Our experts provide training to law enforcement agencies using dogs to detect cash carried by couriers.
Prison intelligence:
The EU GF-AML/CFT supports regional and national cooperation between the policing agencies performing AML/CFT investigations, intelligence gathering agencies and prison/detention regimes and centres. It does so by developing analysis and operational recommendations aimed at supporting prison and custodial administrations to establish and operate Prison Intelligence Cells.
A recent report was published by the EU Global Facility, and a series of webinars was launched in April 2023
ML and serious financial abuse in the NPO sector
The GF is conducting a research project on the issue of serious financial crime in NPOs, not limited to terrorist financing. It aims at ensuring that global and national policy on combatting ML and other serious financial crimes in the NPO sector is effective, evidence-based and targeted at the risk and protects civil society freedoms.
The findings will therefore serve as evidential basis for future frameworks to address potential risks or vulnerabilities to money laundering and linked serious financial crimes in the NPO sector.
We recently published a report on this topic