International Day against Illicit Trafficking in Cultural Property
2021-11-14
Today marks the International Day against Illicit Trafficking in Cultural Property, a topic at the heart of the work of the EU Global Facility on Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing.
Held every year on 14 November, the International Day against Illicit Trafficking in Cultural Property “reminds the world that theft, looting and illicit trafficking of cultural property takes place in every country, robbing people of their culture, identity and history, and that we have to work together to combat this crime”, according to the UNESCO website.
What is the EU GF doing to tackle illicit trafficking and conflict looting?
Folllowing the introductory webinar held on 27 April 2021, the project has been working on the preparation of a series of global awareness events on blood antiquities trafficking, conflict looting and art theft.
They will pave the way to the production of a research paper outlining current trends and methodologies to disrupt ML/TF networks involved in those traffics.
What are the areas of work in this regard?

⚠️Managing the differences in Civil Law -v- Common law jurisdictions.
⚠️Maximising the EU protocol AML/CFT legislation and criminal legislation. (POCA, Civil recovery, Confiscation Orders)
⚠️Sharing of Financial intelligence between FIUs and LEAs.
⚠️Raising awareness of the differences in AML /CFT – cultural legislation, ( e.g. in some jurisdictions only art dealers and not individuals are subject to AML /CFT legislation, thereby investigative agencies may have to utilise criminal legislation to prove an AML/CFT offence )

Wrap up workshop with the Mauritian Gaming Regulatory Authority
2021-11-17
On 17 November 2021, our Key Expert on Regulation Arnaud Stien and Joseph Attard met with the Gaming Regulatory Authority of Mauritius as a way to wrap up the technical assistance programme started two years ago.
This also marked the kick off of a new cooperation phase with the country, paving the way for its ‘resilience’ after its delisting.
In October 2021, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) announced the removal of Mauritius from the list of high-risk third countries with regards to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing. The country had previously been listed in June 2020.
From June 2019 until November 2021, the EU Global Facility has provided continuous technical assistance through various training and activities to help Mauritian authorities and AML/CFT actors rectify the strategic deficiencies in its national anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing framework to be removed from the list.

Workshop on BO Register Mauritius
2021-11-18 - 2021-11-19 | FSC House, Ebene, Mauritius
The two-day workshop titled ‘Transparency of Beneficial Owners and the Implementation Cycle of the BO Register: Exchange of Experiences and Future Challenges’ was held at the FSC House in Ebène, Mauritius, on 18-19 November 2021.
The event was organised by the EU Global Facility in collaboration with the Ministry of Financial Services and Good Governance and the Register of Companies (ROC). It focused on the role of beneficial owner registers as a tool to ensure transparency of beneficial owners, legal persons, trusts and similar legal arrangements.
Topics discussed included

(i) Beneficial Ownership Disclosure Frameworks: The Role of Beneficial Ownership Registers
(ii) Implementation of BO Registers by IFCs: Options and Challenges
(iii) country case studies presentation
(iv) Ensuring the Implementation of and an effective BO Register
(v) Exchange of Experiences and Open Discussion on Selected Topics

Our Key Expert on BO, Alexandre Taymans, delivered the opening session, alongside the Director of ROC, Mrs Prabha Chinien, and the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Financial Services and Good Governance, Mr Navindsing Jugmohunsing. The training sessions were delivered by experts Sébastien Guillaume and Andrej Leontiev.
“The efforts and commitment of Mauritius in its delisting from the FATF grey list is a major milestone for the country and is a great encouragement for future endeavours,” said Mr Taymans, noting that the aim of the two-day workshop was to discuss issues and challenges that Mauritius and Europe, as jurisdictions, have in terms of implementing BO Registers.
The workshop, he added, “marks the start of a new partnership and open dialogue between the EU and Mauritius”.
For her part, Mrs Chinien, extended gratitude to the EU Global Facility on AML/CFT for their technical assistance in the implementation of the AML/CFT framework in Mauritius and the setting up of the BO Register.
She recalled that, during the FATF October 2021 Plenary, Mauritius was recognised as having made significant progress in addressing strategic AMLCFT deficiencies and improving the implementation of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing controls.
As for the Acting Permanent Secretary, he stated that Mauritius as an international financial centre is “committed to putting in place bold measures to maintain its reputation as a transparent and credible jurisdiction”. The Government, he said, is determined to protect the integrity of the financial services sector so that it continues to prosper in a sustainable manner and contributes to the economic development of the country.
He also expressed satisfaction regarding the efforts of all regulatory bodies in contributing to the removal of Mauritius from the FATF and UK AML/CFT deficiencies’ lists.
The activity is part of a series of activities that the EU GF is organising in Mauritius from 17 to 25 November 2021.
This article was produced in collaboration with the Government Information Service (GIS) of Mauritius
The activity is part of a series of activities that the EU GF is organising in Mauritius from 17 to 25 November 2021.

Regional Conference on FATF Rec 8 - Mauritius
2021-11-22 - 2021-11-24 | Mauritius, Mauritius
The Regional Workshop on ‘Compliance with International and EU Requirements concerning the FATF Recommendation 8’ took place on 22-24 November 2021, at Le Meridien Hotel in Mauritius.
It was organised by the EU Global Facility on Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing in collaboration with the Ministry of Financial Services and Good Governance of Mauritius.
The workshop, which will run through Wednesday 24 November 2021, witnesses the participation of representatives from Mauritius, Panama, Madagascar, Bangladesh, the Seychelles, Tunisia, Jordan, Zambia, among others. It seeks to allow regulators from Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) and representatives of Financial Intelligence Units (FIU) to exchange best practices and challenges faced among themselves and with the EU and other states on the applied methodology, chosen policies and work undertaken to ensure compliance of their legislation and practice with FATF Recommendation 8 requirements.
The event will also provide a tangible opportunity to proceed with concrete steps to promote effective supervision of NPOs and ultimately assist in relevant mutual evaluation assessments in relation to the said recommendation by the participating states. On the last day of the workshop, the Global Facility will also present its recent research report titled “Typologies of the Illicit Financial Abuse of NPO Sector – Specificity, Complexity, Complicity and Harm”.
In his keynote address to the audience, Minister of Financial Services and Good Governance, Hon. Mahen Kumar Seeruttun thanked the EU Global Facility for its “unwavering support to Mauritius at all times,” noting that “the EU Global Facility has provided us with technical assistance whenever requested, providing us with the highest quality of support and experts.”
Team Leader of the EU Global Facility, David Hotte, congratulated Mauritian partners on the successful delisting from the FATF grey list in October 2021, saying “we are very proud to have contributed, along with other international partners like GIZ, the UK, IMF and the UN, among others, to the delisting of Mauritius and we will continue working together even after this milestone. It is only the beginning of a new and promising era.”
For his part, Ambassador and Head of the EU Delegation, H.E. Vincent Degert, commended the government, civil servants and public sector of Mauritius, stating “the government has repeatedly expressed its wish to address all ESAAMLG recommendations and to improve all their immediate outcomes scores, thus to become a role model for many countries worldwide.”
“I can only felicitate this attitude as it is very important that the current momentum for reform is maintained, to make these achievements sustainable and far-reaching, building on the very relevant tools that were developed with the help of the EU Global Facility assistance and of the other international donors and continuing their capacity building to be able to reach concrete results.”
The workshop is part of a series of activities organised by the EU Global Facility in Mauritius from November 16 to 25th, 2021.

Operational Terrorist Financing Table Top Exercise in Mauritius
2021-11-23 - 2021-11-24 | Mauritius, Mauritius
The EU AML-CFT Global Facility will deliver a Table Top Training Event to AML-CFT agencies and their partners in Mauritius on 23-24 November 2021.
The workshop will use a live exercise involving CT officers, law enforcement and prosecutors in relation to exploiting fast time financial intelligence in the investigation of counter terrorism.
The exercise will take the form of a Table Top Training Event where attendees will be facilitated through a realistic terrorist simulation towards the stated objectives below. The simulation will outline a large terrorist event and will then focus on developing financial investigation and intelligence activity that will support the simulated criminal justice event. The exercice will be based on the geography and local economy of the Mauritius environment
The learning facilitation will lead the participants towards the identification of the financial footprint that pre-and-post terrorism attack activity leaves. Further participant analysis will allow for the development of an immediate financial investigative action plan that will steer and advise the local Mauritian authorities should an incident occur.
Ultimately, the activity seeks to support Mauritian partners to improve their capacities to:

– Prevent and detect the funding of terrorism – utilising the ITAC model.
– Support the investigation of a terrorist attack through the utilisation of Financial Intelligence including ‘crimes in action’ utilising a Post Incident Financial Investigation Actions Plan.
– Outline the financial behaviours that indicate operational terrorist financing to aid preventative and post incident investigations.

BO Disclosure Framework workshop with the Bank of Mauritius
2021-11-23 - 2021-11-25
The three-day onsite workshop tackled the topic of “BO disclosure frameworks, supervisors and obliged entities: from multi-pronged approach to multi stakeholder engagement“.
Organised jointly by the EU AML/CFT Global Facility and the Bank Of Mauritius, the workshop constitutes the result of several joint activities conducted in the past month aimed of enhancing the understanding and effective implementation of Beneficial Ownership disclosure standards in Mauritius, by both the BoM and the obliged entities under its supervision.
This engaging public-private perspective resulted in dedicated “Beneficial Ownership Identification and Verification Guidelines” as well as a dedicated “Beneficial Ownership Supervision Handbook”. These Guidelines and Handbook will be extensively discussed with the BoM as well as other supervisors (e.g., FSC, FIU, AGO, MIPA) and their obliged entities under supervision during the course of the workshop.
Press Communiqué of the activity:
Financial Services: Workshop to reinforce capacity of financial institutions supervisors
Our team led by Arnaud Stien and Alexandre Taymans led discussions focused on the key features and challenges of international and EU BO standards, outreach tools that can be implemented as well as supervisory and sanctioning mechanisms available. New areas of cooperation were also discussed.
In his address, First Deputy Governor of the BoM Mr Kona Yerukunondu expressed gratitude to EU Global Facility for their “invaluable support to implement the International Co-operation Review Group (ICRG) action plan and the country’s exit from the FATF’s grey list”.
“Experts of EU Global Facility have been a key partner for Mauritius to improve techniques on AML/CFT and I am confident that the assistance provided by the EU will significantly enhance the skills of supervisors as they are highly instrumental in bringing industry practices at par with global standards.”
Mr Kona Yerukunondu also emphasised the importance of education as an effective tool to transform compliance cultures for organisations.
Mr Arnaud Stien underlined the opportunities arising for the country following its delisting from the FATF grey list.
“It is crucial to keep the momentum high as Mauritius embarks on a new journey as a global community. For the way forward, Mauritius needs to stay compliant and we will continue supporting the country in new areas of cooperation in the future.”

EuroMed meeting of the Forum of Prosecutors General
2021-11-23 - 2021-11-25 | Eurojust, The Hague, Netherlands
On November 23rd to 25th, 2021, the EU Global Facility on AML CFT participated in the third EuroMed meeting of the Forum of Prosecutors General, which took place at Eurojust in The Hague.
Our Senior Expert on Justice, Victoria Palau, was involved in a series of meetings, including the first cross-regional meeting of the Prosecutors general of the Mediterranean countries and EU MS, which led to the approval of one the first cross-regional Strategic Plan for judicial cooperation.
One of the two strategic topics and action plans approved by the Prosecutors general encompassed the judicial cooperation on the confiscation of crime proceeds and asset recovery, a subject matter at the core of the EU Global Facility’s work as it constitutes a crucial part of the financial investigation and penal chain on AML/CFT.
The third meeting of the EuroMed Forum of Prosecutors General was preceded by the 14th meeting of CrimEx, the expert group in judicial criminal matters of the EMJ programme.

Throughout those two days, the EU Global Facility, represented by Mrs Palau, and Euromed Justice discussed ways to enhance their cooperation on judicial matters.

NPO Workshop 'Countering TF risks in the NPO sector' - Mauritius
2021-11-25 | Mauritius, Mauritius
At the request of the authorities of Mauritius, the training was designed for representatives of the civil society from Mauritius.
It seeks to enable them to have a better understanding of AML/CFT main principles and standards, operation of AML/CFT systems and best practices applied in understanding and mitigating the risks of NPO abuse, as well as ensuring the compliance with the relevant EU and FATF recommendations and particularly FATF Recommendation 8 on the bases of recently adopted regulations and guidelines by the authorities of Mauritius.
Furthermore, the event aims to explain the recent developments that include the re-rating of Mauritius from NC (non-compliant) to LC (largely compliant).

This activity is part of a series of activities organised by the EU Global Facility in Mauritius from November 16 to 25th, 2021.

Expert Working Group on Scoping & Methodology 'Legal innovations against money laundering'
2021-12-02 - 2021-12-03 | Siracusa, Italy, Siracusa, Italy
Held as part of a series of activities organised by the EU Global Facility on AML/CFT in cooperation with the Siracusa International Institute, this meeting will gather for the first time the Expert Working Group on Scoping and Methodology to assess the scope and effectiveness of innovative legal approaches to money laundering investigations and asset recovery.
This group comprises leading criminal law academics, constitutional law specialists, Constitutional Court Judges and AML/CFT practitioners, who will work on a far-reaching study on the scope and effectiveness of innovative legal approaches to money laundering investigations, including criminal, civil and administrative legal approaches to asset recovery.
In this kick-off meeting, the working group will define the scope of the study and provide initial guidance to the research team. They will do so by taking part in two “tour de table” sessions where experts will have the opportunity to share their knowledge and experience about such innovations in their home jurisdictions.
The outcome of this guidance will serve to set up the project encompassing the various phases and methodology of the research.

ICRJ implementation in relation to FATF REC 8 in Jamaica
2021-12-06 - 2021-12-10 | Jamaica, Jamaica
The EU Global Facility’s engagement with Jamaica continues.
On 2-6 December, the project will organise an e-training on the FATF Rec 8 compliance for regulators from Jamaica. Targeted at all key officials involved in the regulation of Not-for-Profit Organisations (NPOs), the training will establish the key steps needed to ensure sustainable progress on the establishment of a risk-based system of NPO regulation. As a reminder, this constitutes a key requirement of FATF R8 compliance.
Attendees will work on examining existing regulatory activity, whereby they will be acquainted with a risk-based system on NPOs regulation.

Drafting of the BO Regulation and planning forward in Jordan
2021-12-07 - 2021-12-08 | Jordan
The two-day workshop, organised by Key experts Arnaud Stien and Alexandre Taymans, was delivered with the collaboration of experts Lubjinka Slaveska and Michael Barron. Attendees included representatives from the Anti-Money Laundering Unit, the Central Bank of Jordan, the Companies Control Department and the Jordan Free and Development Zones Group.
The workshop focused on

(i) the finalisation of the draft BO Regulation that the Global Facility has been working on with Jordan and
(ii) the identification and planning of the upcoming activities related to the implementation of this Regulation (e.g. outreach activities for the FI/DNFBP sectors, supervisors and legal vehicles in scope).

Following the workshop, meetings were held with the head of the AMLU and the Controller of the Companies Control Department to discuss the forthcoming activities to be organised by the EU Global Facility in Jordan. Activities will cover a variety of topics such as crypto assets, TFS and strategic approach.
Next steps and activities aimed at addressing the items of Jordan’s ICRG action plan related to the FATF Immediate Outcome 5 were also scheduled, amongst which an on-site workshop on the development of the IT solution to enable the registration of Beneficial Owners within the CCD.

ICRJ implementation in relation to FATF REC 8 in Jordan
2021-12-12 - 2021-12-16 | Jordan
On 12-16 December 2021, the EU Global Facility organised an e-training on the FATF Rec 8 compliance for regulators from Jordan.
The objective of this e-training is to support the audience in better understanding how to best develop a formal written mechanism for identifying and scoring risks, including TF risks. The sessions also focused on how to review the NPOs’ existing legal and regulatory frameworks and allocate the governance-focused gaps. Best approach to the outreach programme was also covered by the e-training.

E-workshop on the risk assessment of LP/LA in Jordan
2021-12-20 | Jordan
This week’s workshop conducted with the authorities of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan marked the last activity on Beneficial Ownership of this year.
Led by Key Expert on BO, Alexandre Taymans, this two-day workshop was a follow-up activity from the initial workshop held on 8 November 2021.
It aimed to review and discuss the work conducted by Jordan in the mapping of the legal entities and arrangements in scope. Notably, it focused on the ongoing implementation by Jordan of its national legal person and legal arrangement ML/TF risk assessment.
It also cover the description of said entities, as well as their general functioning and categorisation.
The Jordanian authorities and the Global Facility will continue their collaboration on BO in the next year, with a specific emphasis on risk analysis and corresponding mitigating risks identified for both the entities and arrangements in scope.
The activity was delivered jointly by Mr Taymans and expert Alexander Peschetz.

BO guidelines for reporting entities in Jordan
2022-01-06 | Jordan
First activity to kick-off 2022 in Jordan!
Yesterday marked the launch of a new beneficial ownership activity in Jordan, focused on the “Beneficial Ownership Guidelines for Reporting Entities” developed by local authorities.
✅This guideline constitutes an important step toward addressing the FATF’s action plan of Jordan on BO.
✅It is likewise an important document that will increase the understanding of the BO disclosure requirements as well as
✅the consistency of the BO identification and
✅the verification processes that reporting entities have to put in place.
Building on the previous consultations and work conducted with the Global Facility on the BO regulation, further discussions will be organised in the coming months to finalise the review of those guidelines and disseminate them to reporting entities and relevant private sector stakeholders.

Mission to Turkiye
2022-01-11 - 2022-01-12 | Turkey, Turkey
This mission of the EU Global Facility’s team leader David Hotte and key expert on judiciary/CSO Mamuka Jgenti seeks to develop initial contacts with the Turkish Financial Intelligence Unit (Masak) as a way to plan cooperation between the Turkish authorities and the EU GF.
It will also aim to coordinate the regional and global efforts with other institutions such as the Council of Europe.

Law enforcement workshop - Art and Antiquities
2022-01-13
Art trafficking and conflict looting was at the agenda of our workshop last week with some of the leading figures in the field.
Discussions revolved around the preparation of the upcoming regional conference on “The use of AML /CFT legislation in the investigation of Art and Antiquities Criminality” to be held in Cairo, Egypt.
Part of a series of regional events, the conference will target prosecutors, law enforcement agencies and members of the public and private sector concerned in the management and investigation of cultural crime, particularly art and antiquities.
In April 2021, we held the first webinar focused on the disruption of money laundering and terrorist financing networks involved in the trafficking of blood antiquities, conflict looting and art theft.

E-workshop on the Risk Assessment of LP/LA in Jordan
2022-01-17 | Jordan
This workshop constitutes a follow-up of the e-workshop held on November 8th.
It seeks to finalise the identification of the business and technical requirements for Legal Persons and Legal Arrangements (LP/LA) risk assessment.
Subsequent to this workshop, further work will be initiated on the drafting of the tendering process documentation.

E-workshop on the Risk Assessment of LP/LA in Jordan (follow up of December 20th)
2022-01-31 | Jordan
The purpose of this workshop is to discuss and go-through the work conducted by Jordan in describing and analysing the risks associated with the legal entities and arrangements in scope. This constitutes a follow up of the last e-workshop conducted on December 20th.
It comes as part of a series of online workshops conducted on BO with Jordanian authorities.

Scoping mission to Turkey
2022-02-02 - 2022-02-04 | Turkey, Turkey
The Global Facility will conduct a scoping mission in Turkey with the objective of meeting stakeholders and agreeing on a technical cooperation programme.

Strategic Approach for the ICRG Process - Jordan
2022-02-08 - 2022-02-10 | Jordan
Over the past three days, the EU Global Facility on AML/CFT was in Jordan to support the delivery of a strategic approach for the International Co-operation Review Group (ICRG) Process focused activity.
Jordanian partners were introduced to the successful experience of Mauritius by Yonesha Sahyem head of AML/CFT at the Ministry of Good Governance and Dr Navin Beekarry, Co-Chair of the Core Group for AML/CFT in Mauritius.
This activity aimed to enhance Jordan’s capacity to respond to ICRG requirements through the exchange of best practices on strategic capacity building.
Following a high-level briefing on the strategic approach and the coordination mechanism that can be in put place, sessions focused on actions to be taken at each stage of the ICRG monitoring cycle and on the conditions to be met for removal from the ICRG process. This includes an ICRG on-site visit and the coordination mechanism to prepare for the face-to-face meeting with the Joint Group.
Discussions were also held with senior officials on the operation of the Technical Assistance Coordination Committee (TACC) and the technical assistance matrix and the future course of action between the EU GF and Jordan.

Outreach visit to Europol
2022-02-17 | Europol, Netherlands
Yesterday, our team leader David Hotte, Key Expert on Regulation Arnaud Stien and Coordinator Benjamin Bricheux conducted an outreach visit to Europol in The Hague, to discuss common areas of interest and potential synergies with a number of colleagues from the EFECC, the TFTP (ECTC), the Governance Department and the Spanish liaison office at Europol.
Following presentations of Europol and the EU GF project, discussions revolved around potential cooperation in the future and common interest in the field of AML/CFT. Sharing of expertise and the participation of Europol in some of the EU Global Facility’s activities were also evoked.
Indeed, the Global Facility mentioned its keenness on inviting Europol experts in a targeted way, depending on the topics and the countries.
The exchanges contributed to positioning the Global Facility as a potential technical assistance solution in countries with which Europol cooperates, and where a need for training on AML/CFT related matters is emerging (ex: Colombia was mentioned).
The Global Facility also expressed its interest in joining the Europol Platform for Experts (EPE), which could serve as a forum for exchange between police officers trained in the partner countries.
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EU delisting of Mauritius, Botswana - Official Journal
2022-02-21
Mauritius is officially out of the EU high risk countries on AML/CFT !
As per Directive (EU) 2015/849 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2015 on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing, the Official Journal of the European Union announced the ‘delisting’ of Mauritius, alongside that of the Bahamas, Botswana, Ghana and Iraq.
The EU recognised the “written high-level political commitment to address the identified deficiencies of these high-risk third countries which have developed an action plan with Financial Action Task Force (FATF)”.
The EU Global Facility on AML/CFT is particularly enthusiastic about this achievement, having been a long standing partner of Mauritius in its delisting efforts since June 2019.
Over the course of 18 months, the EU GF-AML/CFT provided technical support to the country as part of the Technical Assistance Coordination Committee (TACC) composed of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, the International Monetary Fund, UNODC, The World Bank, in addition to the support of the French and British embassies, as well as the AML-THB Project, among others.
Among other announcements:
????“The FATF welcomed significant progress made by Botswana, Ghana and Mauritius in improving their AML/CFT regime and noted that Botswana, Ghana and Mauritius have established the legal and regulatory framework to meet the commitments in their action plans regarding the strategic deficiencies that the FATF had identified. Botswana, Ghana and Mauritius are therefore no longer subject to the FATF’s monitoring process under its on-going global AML/CFT compliance process. Botswana, Ghana and Mauritius will continue to work with the FATF Style Regional Bodies to improve further their AML/CFT regime.”
????“The Commission’s analysis concluded that the Bahamas, Botswana, Ghana, Iraq and Mauritius do not have strategic deficiencies in their AML/CFT regime anymore considering the available information. The Bahamas, Botswana, Ghana, Iraq and Mauritius have strengthened the effectiveness of their AML/CFT regime and addressed related technical deficiencies to meet the commitments in their action plan regarding the strategic deficiencies that the FATF identified and the additional benchmarks or preliminary concerns set by the Commission.”
For the full Bulletin click here

Scoping mission to Zambia
2022-03-01 - 2022-03-04 | Zambia, Zambia

ESAAMLG/EU GF Regional Workshop on Implementation of Requirements of FATF Rec 8
2022-03-07 - 2022-03-09 | Johannesburg, South Africa
The EU-funded AML/CFT Global Facility, in collaboration with the Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG), the Global NPO Coalition on FATF and the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), South Africa will jointly organise a three-day regional workshop on “Implementation of Requirements of FATF Recommendation 8” for ESAAMLG member countries.
Scheduled on 7 to 9 March 2022 in in Johannesburg, South Africa, the regional workshop will seek to assist participants to:

– Understand the requirements of FATF Recommendation 8 and what they need to do to strengthen their legislations, institutional and operational frameworks such as policies and other terrorist financing mitigating measures.
– Acquire knowledge and expertise so that they are able to identify those NPOs that fall within the FATF definition and those which are likely to be at the risk of TF abuse, and to better understand how the NPOs can be abused for terrorist financing purposes;
– Acquire knowledge and expertise which will enable them to apply targeted risk-based supervision or monitoring of those NPOs that are at risk of being abused; and
– Understand how they can establish effective mechanisms to facilitate cooperation and coordination and information sharing amongst relevant competent authorities in order to take preventive or investigative action in a timely manner.

This Workshop will be organised and held in the spirit of enhancing member countries’ compliance with relevant FATF Standards. It will provide regulators of NPOs, FIUs and NPO Associations with a platform to discuss and share insights on best practices and challenges which they face and methodologies that can be used to ensure compliance with the FATF requirements on NPOs. Such exchanges will contribute towards prioritisising the improvement of national legislation and policies that will promote accountability, integrity and public confidence in the administration and management of NPOs. The Workshop will also assist member countries to implement respective FATF ICRG Action Plans or any other follow-up processes in relation to Recommendation 8.

Scoping mission to Jamaica
2022-03-14 - 2022-03-18 | Jamaica, Jamaica
This scoping mission to Jamaica aims to evaluate the current state of play and the activities delivered so far by the EU Global Facility to Jamaican counterparts.
During a variety of meetings, participants from both sides will discuss the action plan for the future of the technical assistance, which will include a specific focus on Recommendation 8 and beneficial ownership.
Alongside the scoping mission, a workshop will also be organised for regulatory authorities and Not-for-Profit Organisations. It will cover the strategy and steps needed for compliance with the recommendations’ requirements.
Press Release
Wrap up Jamaica ????????
The EU Global Facility on AML/CFT’s Team Leader David Hotte and Key Expert on Justice/CSOs Mamuka Jgenti conclude their Technical Assistance (TA) scoping and assessment visit to Kinston, Jamaica.
During the visit, they held a number of outreach meetings with the representatives of the Bank of Jamaica, the Financial Intelligence Unit (FID) and the agencies regulating the Not for Profit Organisations in the country.
A few outcomes:
→ The progress achieved Jamaica to date in the implementation of ICRJ AP was reviewed
→ The added value of the TA provided by the GFT was assessed.
→ The EU GF support was commended by the local authorities, who highlighted the “tangible results achieved”, in particular regarding the FATF Rec 8 and BO related matters.
→A concrete follow up interaction work plan was agreed to extend the coverage of TA provided by the EU GF, to encompass activities under the Justice and Law Enforcement components of the AML/CFT system.
In parallel, the EU GF organised its 1st onsite workshop in Jamaica for the authorities/NPO regulators and civil society representatives. The workshop aimed at supporting Jamaica’s efforts in ensuring compliance with the FATF Rec 8 in line with the ICRG AP.
The workshop was conducted by the expert Phil Cooper from the Greenacre Group Ltd and witnessed the attendance of Minister Aubyn Hill of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Sancia Templar, Permanent Secretary and Maurene Simms, Deputy Governor of the Bank of Jamaica.

Regional Conference on Strengthening Judicial Cooperation in the MENA Region
2022-03-22 - 2022-03-24 | Bahrain, Bahrain
Press Release
Regional conference on judicial cooperation in the MENA region launched in Bahrain

Manama, 22 March 2022 – The EU Global Facility on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (EU GF-AML/CFT) on Tuesday kicked off a regional conference on judicial cooperation in the MENA region, in collaboration with the Siracusa International Institute for criminal justice and human rights organised with the support of the Public Prosecution of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Held under the title ‘Strengthening Judicial Cooperation in the MENA Region: Judges and Prosecutors at the Forefront of the Fight against Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing’, the three-day event is witnessing the participation of 70 participants from 18 countries of the MENA region.
“We are delighted to be here today with such great attendance. It is with pleasure that we see the level of dedication to judicial cooperation, a topic at the heart of the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing,” said EU Global Facility Team Leader David Hotte in his welcoming remarks.
“It is particularly impressive to witness participants from so many countries committed to the deepening of collaborative measures to ensure the due recovery of proceeds from organised crime and terrorist activities,” he added, thanking the Kingdom of Bahrain and all representatives for their attendance.
For his part, Jean-François Thony, President of the Siracusa Institute, highlighted the importance of the event, stating: ‘‘this conference is one-of its kind. Indeed, seeing judges and prosecutors from so many countries gathered in one room to cooperate on AML/CFT is unique, especially in this region. Too often we forget the importance of judges and prosecutors in the AML/CFT process but not today.”
“International collaboration of this level is of particular importance for the Siracusa Institute, which is at the forefront of the fight against organised crime in the Mediterranean and has made of the improvement of criminal justice systems one of its core missions.”
The conference is part of a series of activities organised by the EU GF-AML/CFT and the Siracusa Institute aimed at strengthening international judicial co-operation and the efficient application of existing MLA standards and international instruments by judges and prosecutors.
In a video message, Regional Counsellor on counterterrorism and security at the EU Delegation to Bahrain, Philippe Cormier, stated “this conference is an illustration of the fast and strong development of our common ambition to develop and deepen judicial cooperation in the MENA region and work to facilitate judicial cooperation with the EU, in a result oriented way.”
“Today, with this EU-MENA conference on judicial cooperation, our common interest is to extend the level of trust developed between EU Member States to the judicial relation we have between EU and MENA Member States,” he added.

Topics tackled during the conference included:

What works and does not work for judicial cooperation on AML/CFT matters: A high-level situation analysis for the MENA region
Countering the financing of terrorism: a specific challenge for the MENA region
National strategies to ensure effective investigations and prosecutions relating to anti-money laundering (AML), counter-terrorist financing (CTF) and counter-proliferation
Best practices for money laundering and financial investigations and prosecutions, and criminal asset recovery
Constitutional arguments as obstacles to judicial cooperation: Contrasting myth and reality
Improving the capacity of investigators and judicial systems to turn intelligence into evidence
International experiences and best practices with governmental and social reuse of confiscated criminal assets
Improving judicial cooperation in the MENA region: listing effective tools

Scoping mission to Morocco
2022-03-29 - 2022-03-30 | Morocco, Morocco
On 29 and 30 March 2022, a delegation from the EU Global Facility on AML/CFT will be in Rabat for a series of meetings with Moroccan counterparts.
Among others, they will meet with the Ministry of Finance (focal point for AML/CFT activities and the establishment of a beneficial owner register), the ANRF (financial intelligence unit), financial and non-financial supervisory authorities, the Ministry of Justice, and various liaison magistrates.
These meetings aim to be a platform for discussion of technical assistance and refine Morocco’s request for AML/CFT strengthening support.

ESAAMLG Plenary
2022-04-03 - 2022-04-08 | Arusha, Tanzania, United Republic of
The EU Global Facility on AML/CFT is invited to attend the ESAAMLG’s 43rd Task Force of Senior Officials’ Meeting from 3 to 8 April 2022 at the Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC) in Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania.

Training of Turkish regulators on FATF REC 8 requirements
2022-04-04 - 2022-04-06 | Turkey, Turkey
This is the first complete e-training module launched with the Turkish authorities on the implementation and compliance with FATF REC 8.
The sessions are expected to be attended by representatives of Turkish authorities and regulators as well as law enforcement authorities. This e=training will be followed by online and onsite capacity building events organised by the EU GF.

Scoping mission to DRC
2022-04-11 - 2022-04-14 | DRC, Congo, Democratic Republic of the
The EU Global Facility on AML/CFT kicked off a scoping mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo yesterday.
From 11 to 14 April 2022, the delegation -led by our Key Expert on Judiciary/CSOs Mamuka Jgenti – will be in Kinshasa for a series of meetings with Congolese stakeholders.
Among others, they will meet with representatives from different ministries (finance, justice, interior), the CENAREF (financial intelligence unit, focal point for the EU GFT), the Central Bank of Congo, the Public prosecutor office and the anti-#corruption agency, among others.
This scoping mission to the DRC aims to evaluate the current state of play and the potential technical assistance that could be delivered by the EU Global Facility to Congolese counterparts. The Global Facility will complete this scoping mission together with the AML-THB Project in the Greater Horn of #Africa, in order to join forces and offer the most comprehensive technical assistance possible.
