Closing event on Jordan Legal Persons and Legal Arrangements Risk Assessment
2023-03-05 - 2023-03-07 | Jordan
Closing event on Jordan Legal Persons and Legal Arrangments Risk Assessment launched in Amman
AMMAN, 5 March 2023 – The EU Global Facility on Anti Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) and the Jordanian Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorist Financing Unit (AMLU) on Sunday launched a three days workshop on the topic of Jordan Legal Persons and Legal Arrangements (LP/LA) Risk Assessment Results in Amman.
The event, which constitutes a milestone in the country’s fight on AML/CFT, marks the closing of the work started by the EU Global Facility with the Jordanian authorities in August 2021. A number of stakeholders from the AMLU, the Central Bank of Jordan and the Companies Control Department along with competent authorities have worked together on designing and implementing the assessment of the AML/CFT risks and the misuse of legal persons and legal arrangements, using a leading-edge methodology.

In her opening remarks, Head of the Anti-Money Laundering Unit of Jordan, Samya Abu Sharif, noted: “the topic of today’s workshop is an indication of the important role of all national agencies in promoting the necessary actions to combat the risks of money-laundering and terrorist financing associated with legal persons and legal arrangements at the national level.”
“Understanding the potential threats, and strengthening the system to achieve increased transparency for the legal persons and the legal arrangements and developing national programmes in partnership with the private sector to reduce their impact is a crucial objective of thjs assessment work.”
“The results of the assessment presented today will help us better understand and be directed towards high-risk aspects in order to prevent criminals from exploiting legal persons and legal arrangements in ML/TF crimes,” she added.
For his part, EU Global Facility Key Expert on Beneficial Ownership Alexandre Taymans commended the “successful work and important efforts put together by Jordan to conduct this exercise in such a structured and timely manner”.
“As the dissemination of the findings of this assessment are now launched, such a milestone calls for and paves the way for an enhanced engagement between competent authorities, as well as with the private sector to ensure that the recommendations and the mitigating measures identified by the working group will be fully implemented before the next update to the risk assessment,” he stated.
The EU Global Facility has developed a dedicated methodology for the risk assessment of legal persons and arrangements to assist partner jurisdictions with a methodology that can be tailored to their specific context.
This activity is a milestone for any country implementing a BO disclosure framework as it will help them identify the risk jurisdictions are facing from the misuse of legal vehicles both at national and international level. This risk assessment is also to be put in the context of the renewed and increasing focus the FATF’s new recommendation 24 (April 2022) has put on this challenging exercise for jurisdictions considering the scope of such exercise, the number and variety of stakeholders involved and the level of technical expertise it requires.

ASEAN Joint Regional Workshop on FATF Rec 8 in Indonesia
2023-03-08 - 2023-03-10 | Indonesia, Indonesia
Today, the EU Global Facility, together with the EU-funded ESIWA project supported the organisation of The ASEAN Secretariat Regional Forum Workshop on Anti Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) in Bali, Indonesia 🇮🇩.
Supported by the European Union, the event is co-organised at the initiative of the authorities of Indonesia and LAO PDR.
Our experts together with the APG representative will participate in the three-day workshop focusing on the state of implementation of the FATF Recommendation 8 on NPOs in the region.
They will also discuss the best practices, as well as the challenges the jurisdictions are facing globally regarding the compliance with the said Recommendation.

E-workshop to support Zambia NPO Sectoral Risk Assessment
2023-03-09
The event aims to present to the regulators/authorities of Zambia the methodology and possibly next steps for the NPO Sectoral Risk Assessment necessary for ensuring better compliance with the requirements of the FATF Rec 8.

Review session of Seychelles' NPO inherent risk report
2023-03-10 | The Seychelles, Seychelles
On 10 March 2023, our Key Expert on Justice/CSO will be in the Seychelles to conduct the preliminary review session of the NPO inherent risk report.
This session constitutes a follow-up to the support provided by the EU Global Facility to Seychelles in order to ensure its compliance with the requirements of the FATF Recommendation 8. It will serve as a validation session for all concerned institutions to endorse the report and ensure that document provides an accurate representation of the NPO sector.

Region NPO Consultations on FATF Recommendation 8 in Latin America and the Caribbean
2023-03-20 - 2023-03-21 | Argentina, Argentina
Yesterday, we concluded the Regional Consultations on the revisions of the Best Practices Paper on Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Recommendation 8 in Buenos Aires, #Argentina 🇦🇷.
Civil society representatives from 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America spent two days discussing the challenges and best practices in the implementation of this recommendation in the regions. Officials from GAFILAT and Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) were also in attendance, along with representatives of the Argentinian authorities.
On the second day of the consultations, #civilsociety representatives identified the best practices, challenges and recommendations to be provided to FATF, before discussing their findings with the co-lead on the revision of the Best Practices Paper.
The EU Global Facility, in co-operation with the Global NPO Coalition on FATF and in co-ordination with the respective FSRBs will continue organising those regional NPO consultations around the world, with sessions scheduled to take place in

🇪🇺 Warsaw (MONEYVAL region)
🌍 Amman (Middleeast and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF) region)
🌍 Cape-Town (esaamlg org, GABAC and GIABA regions)
🌏 South-East Asia (APG region)

Beneficial Ownership workshop in Colombia
2023-03-21 - 2023-03-23 | Colombia, Colombia
In parallel to our regional event in Argentina, the EU Global Facility is also in Colombia where it launched its first onsite activity with the country.
Focused on the topic of Beneficial Ownership, the three-day event will start with peer-to-peer exchanges of experience between the Colombian tax authorities (DIAN) and several European beneficial ownership registers. This will serve to discuss the specific features and mechanisms through which beneficial ownership information can be registered, vetted and enforced.
Adriana del Pilar Solano Cantor, Deputy Director of the Tax Registry Administration in Colombia, stated that “This workshop will enable Colombia to identify good practices for the deployment of such beneficial ownership registries, the existing opportunities for improvement of the regulatory framework and IT system in Colombia and the development of new features in the registry such as the registration of the chain of ownership and control. Similarly, this exchange of experience will also serve to identify areas of improvement in the technical framework”.
For his part Alexandre Taymans, Key Expert of the EU Global Facility on Beneficial Ownership, celebrated the launch of this first beneficial ownership training in Colombia. He noted the fact that Colombia already had an operational beneficial ownership registration system and good understanding of the issues that it will face, both in terms of ensuring the availability, quality and accessibility of the information, which will ensure very fruitful discussions and exchanges. He also indicated that beyond the training and exchange of experiences, this activity was also aimed at identifying areas of future cooperation in areas where the expertise of the Global Facility could be deployed to support Colombian authorities.
On Thursday, other competent authorities from Colombia will attend a session focusing on international standards and best practices on the topic of Beneficial Ownership as well as the tools that can be developed to enhance the understanding of BO disclosure requirements.
The sessions will also cover the verification and supervision mechanisms that can be implemented by jurisdictions to ensure that frameworks are effectively implemented by both private and public sector stakeholders.

Oversight Group Meeting on the Implementation of Terrorist Financing Risk Assessments in NPOs (Argentina)
2023-03-23 | Argentina, Argentina
Today, the EU Global Facility wrapped up its first bilateral onsite activity in Argentina, which was centered on the compliance with the requirements of FATF Recommendation 8.
The successful event brought together over 40 representatives from Argentinian authorities and regulators and from local NPOs.
After reviewing in details said requirements of FATF Rec 8, participants focused on the support needed to conduct NPO Sectoral Risk Assessment as required by the Recommendation. They agreed on the next steps to be taken by both authorities/regulators and NPOs in order to further proceed with the Risk Assessment exercise.
These onsite meetings came as a follow up to several online capacity building activities started in October last year.

Scoping mission to Paraguay
2023-03-23 - 2023-03-25 | Paraguay, Paraguay
Last week, part of the EU Global Facility team was in Paraguay to conduct a scoping mission to discuss the future implementation of technical assistance activities on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing.
Led by Team Leader David Hotte, the delegation began its visit at the Attorney General’s Office, where the Minister of the Secretariat for the Prevention of Money Laundering (SEPRELAD), René Fernández Bobadilla and Deputy Minister Carmen María Pereira Bogado, welcomed them. The team was accompanied by the Ambassador of the European Union in Paraguay, Javier García de Viedma.
The discussions revolved around the the key priority actions identified in the Mutual Evaluation Report of the Republic of Paraguay approved in 2022 by the GAFILAT, which reflects the needs of the country in AML/CFT.
Later on, the EU Global Facility experts met with the First Vice President, @Carolina Llanes, and Justices Luis María Benítez Riera and Alberto Martínez Simón at the Supreme Court of Justice.
Technical discussions were then led with representatives of the law enforcement agencies in charge of investigating financial crimes, namely SENAD, SENAC, the National Police, Customs and SEPRINTE.
On the last day, a meeting with judges and prosecutors specialised on AML/CFT was held, where the attendees discussed the main findings of the Evaluation and the mechanisms to be implemented to implement the necessary structural improvements to the systems of investigation, prosecution and conviction of AML/CFT crimes.

Training for resident agents on Beneficial Ownership identification, verification and supervision in Panama
2023-03-27 - 2023-03-31 | Panama, Panama
Panama continues fight against money laundering, terrorist financing with EU Global Facility support
Panamá City, 5 March 2023 – The Superintendency of Non-Financial Entities (SSNF) and the EU Global Facility on Anti Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) launched on Monday a three-day workshop on the topic of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing in Panama City.
This workshop seeks to build on the work already conducted by the Panamanian authorities (bank supervisors, FIU, prosecution service and law enforcement authorities, tax authorities, ministry of economy and finance, IT administration) on the topic of “Beneficial Ownership Registers as Competent Authorities”.
In the opening remarks, Héctor Alexander, Minister of Economy and Finance and President of the National Commission against Money Laundering, as well as President of the Boar of Directors of the SSNF, said that “The Registry of Beneficial Owners is already a fully operational system, and is based on 4 pillars, which are: the registry of resident agents, the inclusion of BO information in the system, the verification process and access to the information by the competent authority in a timely manner”; “The effective implementation of this registry is part of the actions we are taking in order to complete our Action Plan with FATF, and it is the responsibility and commitment of both the private sector and the government.”
Commending the work carried out by Panama so far, Izabela Matusz, the European Union Ambassador to Panama, underlined that “Today marks the 13th activity co-organised with the EU Global Facility in Panama, which demonstrates the strong collaboration with technical assistance providers and Panama’s dedication to strengthen its AML/CFT framework in order to better comply with the Financial Action Task Force Recommendations.”
Over the next three days, Beneficial Ownership experts from Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg and Malta are going to engage with the audience on the role that their BO Registry is playing in the beneficial ownership model of their jurisdiction, the challenges they have faced and the solutions they have implemented.
EU Global Facility Key Expert on Beneficial Ownership, Alexandre Taymans, commended the “successful work and important efforts put together by the SSNF and other Panamanian authorities since the first joint activity back in November 2021”. Topics included in the agenda cover legal and regulatory considerations, supervision and onsite inspection, data analytics and the role of IT systems, as well as interagency cooperation, among others.

Workshop on Regional Eastern Partnership and Europe AML/CFT Multi-stakeholder in Warsaw
2023-04-04 - 2023-04-05 | Poland, Poland
Today, we launch the 2nd in a series of Regional Consultations on the revisions of the Best Practices Paper on Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Recommendation 8 in Warsaw, #Poland 🇵🇱
Civil society representatives from 13 countries of the Regional Eastern Partnership and Europe will spend two days discussing the challenges and best practices in the implementation of this recommendation in the regions. Officials from MONEYVAL are also in attendance, along with representatives of the Polish authorities.
Following the first consultation in Buenos Aires last month, the EU Global Facility, in co-operation with the Global NPO Coalition on FATF and in co-ordination with the respective FSRBs will continue organising those regional NPO consultations around the world, with sessions scheduled to take place in
🌍 Amman (Middleeast and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF) region)
🌍 Cape-Town (esaamlg org, GABAC and GIABA regions)
🌏 South-East Asia (APG region)

Completion of the NPO Sectoral Risk Assessment in the Seychelles
2023-04-12 | The Seychelles, Seychelles
Kick off of the NPO Sectoral Risk Assessment Validation Workshop in Victoria, Seychelles today.
The EU Global Facility, in co-operation with the FIU of the Seychelles, brought together some 100 participants from the authorities and regulators, the private sector and the NPO field to this important milestone.
The inherent risk report has been elaborated over the past months by the authorities of the Seychelles, with continuous support from the EU Global Facility experts.
It is expected to ensure better compliance of the partner country with the requirements of the FATF Recommendation 8 on NPOs.
During this event, participants will also discuss policy frameworks and guidelines to support improved compliance with the FATF Recommendation 8, as well as the forthcoming capacity building programme and outreach activities to be co-organised with the EU GF.
💡 The EU Global Facility’s technical assistance to the Seychelles began in the fall of 2022. It has covered topics related to NPOs, Beneficial Ownership, the Justice sector and the Regulation/FIU field.

E-training on FATF Recommendation 8 for Zambia
2023-04-12 - 2023-04-14 | Zambia, Zambia
With the support launched by the EU GF to the Zambian authorities in the preparation of their NPO Sectoral Risk Assessment, the EU GF experts shall train the authorities but also local experts to be engaged in the data gathering exercise, in the methodology and practical aspect on how to conduct the data collection process.

E-training on FATF Recommendation 8 for Trinidad and Tobago NPOs
2023-04-17 - 2023-04-21 | Trinidad and Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago
Launch of the online training on FATF Recommendation 8 for our new partner state Trinidad and Tobago 🇹🇹 !
Over the next five days, some 40 representatives of NPOs from the Caribbean island will attend sessions to improve the country’s compliance with the requirements of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Recommendation 8, delivered by experts in the subject matter.
In his opening remarks, EU Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago His Excellency Peter Cavendish noted: “As it is recognised, money laundering and terrorist financing are significant threats to countries worldwide. The situation has been deteriorating and governments have to stop and coordinate to fight these phenomena’s global destructive reach.”
He stressed that the fight against ML/FT is “a global fight and it is essential to improve the well-being of citizens across the globe.
Training like that starting today allows to improve efficiency and effectiveness of capacities of all participants in AML/CFT.
I am very happy to welcome all participants and to announce that Trinidad and Tobago is now the 25th country where the EU Global Facility on AML/CFT is active.”
His remarks were followed by an introduction from Key Expert on Justice/CSO Mamuka Jgenti and the Head of Anti-Terrorism Unit at the Office of Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago Vyana Sharma.
In the coming weeks, another series of online training will be delivered to the representatives of authorities and regulators of the country, while other areas of technical assistance will be tackled by the rest of the EU Global Facility team.

Working visit to the DRC
2023-04-24 - 2023-04-26 | DRC, Congo, Democratic Republic of the
The EU Global Facility is in Kinshasa , DRC 🇨🇩 this week as part of its technical assistance activities to the partner country.
The working visit headed by our Team Leader David Hotte kicked off this morning with a training on sanction screening (Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Recommendations 6 and 7) delivered by our Key Expert on Regulation/FIU Arnaud Stien and our expert on Targeted Financial sanctions Fadma Bouharchich.
This first training in a series will focus on the DRC’s obligations under the United Nations Security Council Resolutions. They will enable the Congolese authorities to better understand the scope of CFS obligations and their place in the strategy to combat the financing of terrorism and the financing of nuclear proliferation. The analysis of the law and the training sessions will be used to fuel subsequent exchanges on the operationalisation of the adopted texts.
Three main areas of work are proposed:
1. Operationalisation of the institutional framework dedicated to the CFS: support for the definition of operational processes for the implementation of Recommendations 6 and 7 (identification of targets, communication of lists, withdrawal of lists, unfreezing of funds, etc.)
2. Establishment of processes for monitoring and inventorying frozen assets, to enable the DRC to respond to the FATF’s request for statistics on frozen assets (develop the process for communicating frozen assets to the competent authorities and their centralisation)
3. Ensure effective implementation of targeted financial sanctions by raising awareness of the scope of the obligations among the authorities responsible for monitoring the implementation of the CFS and the private sector”.
On Tuesday 25 April, the EU Global Facility team will provide a mentoring on national coordination, aimed at preparing the Technical Assistance Coordination Committee (TACC) meeting foreseen at the EU Delegation on Wednesday 26 April.
The TACC was launched last December in Kinshasa, in order to best coordinate the work of all technical assistance providers to the Congolese partners in their efforts to strengthen their AML/CFT frameworks.

AML/CFT Moot Court Concept - Working Meeting in Siracusa
2023-04-25 - 2023-04-27 | Siracusa, Italy, Siracusa, Italy
Today, we begin the work on the AML/CFT Moot Court with The Siracusa International Institute for Criminal Justice and Human Rights.
A group of experts from Iceland, Italy, France, Georgia, Romania and the United States gathered to explore the potential of MOOT courts to develop in-depth knowledge and practical skills of prosecutors in relation to money laundering cases.
During this first meeting, the working group reviewed the workplan of activities proposed and the distribution of tasks, as well as analysed the information on good practices already gathered by the experts.
This pilot activity will then be tested for future implementation for the benefit of EU Global Facility partner countries.
💡 The collaboration between the EU Global Facility and the Siracusa International Institute began in September 2021 with the aim of reinforcing judges and prosecutors’ capacities and specialised knowledge on AML/CFT matters. A number of joint activities has already been held on various international judicial cooperation matters.

Regional workshop on BO Registers in Tunisia
2023-04-25 - 2023-04-27 | Tunisie, Tunisia
Tunis, 26 April – The National Company Registry (RNE) of Tunisia and the EU Global Facility on AML/CFT on Thursday wrapped up a three-day regional training workshop on “Implementing a register of beneficial owners” in Tunis.
“It is part of the mission of RNE as an actor in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing and guarantor of the transparency of economic transactions necessary for economic growth,” said the Director General of the register, Adel Chouari, at the opening of the training on Tuesday.
He stressed the importance of the implementation of a register of beneficial owners, which is the first guarantor of transparency and integrity of the financial sector, especially since Tunisia is preparing to come under the scrutiny of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in 2024, for a periodic evaluation.
For his part, the Head of Section and First Secretary of the Delegation of the European Union in Tunisia, Massimiliano Messi, noted that the EU will always support the NER and Tunisia so that investment remains viable and interesting and a source of job and wealth creation.
“It is very important for the EU to train in the field of Beneficial Ownership, noting that the recommendations of the intergovernmental body that oversees global trends in money laundering and terrorist financing “FATF” are very important but those on BO still remain the most complicated” he said.
Messi estimated that the presence of representatives of the commercial registers of Algeria and Libya will allow to create a dynamic to be able to detect the BO which are hidden in a register in one country or in another.
The training was led by international experts from the EU Global Facility coming from Belgium and Luxembourg.

Support of finalisation of NPO Sectoral Risk Assessment in Jamaica
2023-04-25 - 2023-04-28 | Jamaica, Jamaica
The EU Global Facility is wrapping up the day with its onsite workshop in #Jamaica 🇯🇲.
This week, one of our experts worked with the government of Jamaica to consolidate the considerable success achieved so far in the review of the NPO sector exercise.
Over the last few days, they worked on identifying where potential risks lie in the non profit sector and ways to mitigate them, in order to make the Jamaican NPO sector stronger and better equipped to counter money laundering and terrorist financing threats.
Key Jamaican NPOs also took part in consultations held about these reforms to ensure a comprehensive analysis of the reality on the ground.
Meanwhile, internal reforms within the governmental entities are being analysed in order to best adjust to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and other international standards.
In the near future, the EU Global Facility shall also organise one to one sessions with relevant Jamaican partners to address any concerns that may remain on this workstream.

E-training on FATF Rec 8 for Trinidad and Tobago's authorities and regulators
2023-05-02 - 2023-05-05 | Trinidad and Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago
Today, the EU Global Facility launches a new e-training of authorities and regulators of Trinidad and Tobago. Focused on the topic of FATF Recommendation 8, the activity follows the initial e-training delivered to NPOs of the partner country on the same topic last month.
Starting today, the e-training will focus on the requirements and best practices to implement in order to best comply with FATF Rec 8 requirements. It is part of the workplan agreed upon with the Caribbean island during a scoping mission back in February 2023.
As of today, the EU Global Facility has already delivered technical assistance activities to the partner country on the topic of Sanctions (Immediate Outcome 3 and Recommendations 28 and 25), Gaming and FATF Recommendation 8 on the not-for-profit sector.

Regional Custodial Financial Investigations Webinar in Africa
2023-05-03
Yesterday, the EU Global Facility held a very successful webinar on Prisons, Money Laundering and Terrorist Finance: A missed opportunity?’ – An Introduction to Custodial Financial Investigations.
Targeted at representatives of the Middleeast and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF) and esaamlg org regions, this marked the very first in a series of webinars to be organised throughout the year on the topic of illicit finance in the custodial environment.
Over 70 participants took part in the discussions, which followed presentations by various specialised experts on a number of the issues, problems and financial investigative opportunities on the subject.

🔎 An introduction to illicit finance in the custody and prisons arena
🔎 An identification of the issues
🔎 A suggested approach to Custodial Financial Investigations
🔎 An introduction to Illicit Business Model Analysis

This webinar comes following the publication of a paper on Custodial Financial Investigations available here

Regional conference on use of AML/CFT in Investigation of Art & Antiquities Criminality in Mexico
2023-05-09 - 2023-05-11 | Mexico, Mexico
Mexico City, May 9, 2023.- Representatives from 18 Latin American countries are participating in the Regional Conference “The use of Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing (AML/CFT) in the investigation of Art and Antiquities Criminality”, organised by the EU AML/CFT Global Facility in collaboration with the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of Mexico and the Financial Action Task Force for Latin America (GAFILAT).
The Conference aims to strengthen the capacity of the public and private sectors to share information, exchange best practices, identify problems and create solutions to this type of crime. It also aims to raise awareness of this phenomenon among all stakeholders in order to reduce and counter money laundering and terrorist financing (ML/TF) in these lucrative markets and protect a country’s heritage.
The three-day regional event opened at Mexico’s National Museum of Anthropology with 120 high-level participants from Latin America and the Caribbean, the European Union and international organisations such as UNESCO, Interpol and the World Customs Organization, among others.
During her participation, the Minister of Culture, Alejandra Frausto Guerrero, stressed the importance of inter-institutional collaboration to stop the trafficking of heritage assets, and offered her support to advance this objective. “We are talking not only about a legal issue, but also about a human rights issue. Culture is based on cultural rights, on the rights to identity, on the rights of those peoples and communities that have historically been plundered by decades of plundering, of marginalisation, and are those places where the greatest cultural wealth is preserved”.
The head of the country’s cultural policy commented on the actions that have been put in place, for example, the Inter-institutional Commission of the Mexican Government to work on the issue and seek the repatriation of pieces that are outside the country, as well as the campaign #MiPatrimonioNoSeVende, to stop auctions that occur outside the national territory, which has allowed the return to Mexico of more than 11,500 pieces.
The Head of the Financial Intelligence Unit, Pablo Gómez Álvarez, referred to the strategic role of the Financial Intelligence Unit in the identification and tracking of illicit trafficking of cultural property in Mexico related to money laundering. He also pointed out the importance of strengthening inter-institutional coordination and international cooperation in order to prevent and combat this phenomenon more effectively.
Gómez Álvarez highlighted the efforts made by the FIU and the Mexican authorities that make up the national AML/CFT system to identify, prevent and mitigate those emerging risks identified in the commission of these crimes, and emphasised the relevance and usefulness of efficient and timely information exchange channels.
This event, the second in a series of four regional conferences to be organised in 2024, will consist of a series of presentations by international experts on AML/CFT and illicit art trafficking, as well as case studies examining the routes and methods used by criminal networks involved in the looting or theft of antiquities and works of art.
GAFILAT Executive Secretary Esteban Fullin highlighted the fact that “the market for art, antiquities and other cultural objects has attracted organised criminal groups and terrorists to launder the proceeds of their crime and finance their activities. There are risks associated with these markets and many countries do not have sufficient understanding of these risks.”
“Criminals seek to exploit the sector’s history of privacy, which, coupled with a lack of awareness, results in a lack of resources, expertise and experience to investigate and prosecute these crimes both domestically and internationally,” he pointed out. He acknowledged that the issue of art trafficking and money laundering has been little explored, when it is a threat, a precedent crime that generates illicit profits, hence the importance of the regional conference. “That’s also why I think we can learn a little bit from what the Mexican Ministry of Culture and the Mexican FIU can bring to us,” she said.

In his welcome address, David Hotte, Team Leader of the EU Global Facility, highlighted the innovative nature of the conference series, which “addresses the intrinsically complex issue of the looting and art trafficking conflict from a very comprehensive perspective”. “Managing to bring together investigators, prosecutors, Financial Intelligence Unit officials and members of the public and private sectors around the same table is a great success and the first step towards a stronger and more effective response to prevent the penetration of ML/TF in these lucrative markets, ultimately protecting countries’ assets”.

First Meeting of the Senior Advisory Group in Brussels
2023-05-15 - 2023-05-16 | Brussels, Belgium
The EU Global Facility project is pleased to welcome the very first meeting of its Senior Advisory Group on Monday 15 and Tuesday 16 May 2023 in its headquarters of Brussels.
Established to provide the project’s team with advice and insights on strategic AML/CFT orientations and to foster forward-looking discussions on potential new areas of high-level technical assistance, the Group is composed of 11 members, allowing for a diverse representation of EU Member States and partner countries, namely Belgium 🇧🇪, Czech Republic 🇨🇿, Denmark 🇩🇰, France 🇫🇷, Germany 🇩🇪, India 🇮🇳 , Italy 🇮🇹, Lithuania 🇱🇹, Poland 🇵🇱 and Spain 🇪🇸.
High-level representatives of these countries with backgrounds relevant to the AML/CFT sphere such as financial intelligence, law enforcement, justice, EU public administration, the private sector and the academia, spent these two days discussing the work conducted by the EU Global Facility since its creation back in 2017.
They also exchanged on the relevance of the topics foreseen for future activities. Ultimately, the Senior Advisory Group shall provide substantive inputs on how to increase the efficiency of the EU Global Facility in assisting states (i) to comply with the international standards on AML/CFT and; (ii) to support the national Financial Intelligence Units, judiciary and law enforcement agencies to implement the international instruments’ provisions as well as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Recommendations.
On the second day, participants discussed the EU response on AML/CFT, through a review of the European Commission’s Architecture on AML/CFT Technical Assistance and the perspectives ahead.
Moderated by de Kerchove Gilles , the discussions also covered the new EU AML Package (https://lnkd.in/eYZavjGZ), shedding a specific light on the creation of the AMLA and on the evolution of the listing process for high-risk third countries.
“The AMLA was thought through in very close collaboration with national Financial Intelligence Units, as it is not destined to replace these national layers. It will rather serve as the centre of an integrated system composed of the AMLA and the national authorities with an AML/CFT supervisory mandate,” said a representative of the European Commission, stressing that it would also help in bolstering cooperation among national FIUs.

Virtual Assets e-training series for Botswana regulators
2023-05-19 | Botswana, Botswana
🌍 Exciting Progress in AML/CFT Collaboration with Botswana 🇧🇼 !
Following the country’s request for technical assistance in November 2022, the EU Global Facility has been providing support to Botswana on a number of subjects, including the critical topic of FATF Recommendation 15 (New Technologies), which was rated partially compliant.
Since then, the EU GF team has focused on helping the authorities of Botswana to strengthen the regulation and supervision of Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), with great progress achieved so far.
The EU GF has notably worked with the partner country to prepare a comprehensive work programme, spanning 15 sessions from April to September 2023. These sessions aim to empower the Botswanan authorities with the knowledge and tools necessary to conduct a National Risk Assessment (NRA) aligned with Rec 15.
The first three sessions, conducted between April and May, have now set a solid foundation for the NRA process. They covered key aspects such as the structure of the NRA for Virtual Assets (VA) and VASPs, the use of analytical tools for risk-based supervision, and the conduct of a questionnaire-based assessment.
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 These sessions enabled us to better understand and analyse the responses received, ensuring a robust and comprehensive NRA.
In the recently concluded fourth session, our experts delved into the crucial understanding of VA features and VASP operations. Focus was on comprehending the unique characteristics of VAs, their potential attractiveness for money laundering and terrorist financing, as well as gaining insights into VASP operations.
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽This knowledge will help Botswana develop effective strategies to mitigate risks associated with these emerging technologies.
💡 The collaboration between the EU GF and Botswana exemplifies the power of international cooperation in combating financial crimes and ensuring the integrity of the global financial system. By enhancing the regulation and supervision of VASPs, we are taking significant steps toward safeguarding the transparency and security of virtual asset transactions.
Special thanks to Delphine Aupicon from the EU Delegation who shared the opening words of this session!

Gaming e-training series for Mozambique
2023-05-19 08:00 - 17:00 (Europe/Paris) | Mozambique, Mozambique
The EU AMLCFT Global Facility continues its work with #Mozambique 🇲🇿 , with the delivery of a specific e-training course on Gaming.
Following a request from the General Inspector of Gaming (GIG) of Mozambique, the EU Global Facility designed a comprehensive work programme aimed at addressing the recommended actions outlined in the Post-Observation Progress Report.
🔍 Sessions 1 & 2 (4th and 11th May) were dedicated to the main area of focus, IO 3/Supervision. These informative sessions delved into the world of AMLCFT for gaming, covering crucial topics such as requirements, typologies, supervision, risk assessment, and coordination with other competent authorities like the FIU and/or the LEAs. This aligns perfectly with the actions emphasised in the FATF Post Observation Progress report.

💼 Today, on May 19th, we launched Session 3 on IO 3/Supervision, going in-depth on the following crucial aspects:

1️⃣ Identifying clients: Understanding the importance of accurately identifying clients within the gaming sector.
2️⃣ Verifying information: Emphasising the significance of verifying client information to ensure transparency and accountability.
3️⃣ Recording data: Highlighting the need to maintain proper records of all relevant information.
4️⃣ Detecting suspicious transactions: Equipping participants with the skills to identify suspicious transactions within the gaming industry.
5️⃣ Disseminating suspicious transactions to the FIU: Establishing effective channels for promptly reporting any suspicious activity to the Financial Intelligence Unit.

We extend our sincere congratulations and gratitude to the gaming authority in Mozambique for their strong engagement and commitment towards enhancing AML/CFT practices in the country.
Special thanks and recognition also to Paulo Lopes, Gaming Authority in Portugal, for his invaluable contributions and support in this endeavour.

Participation in the MENAFATF Plenary
2023-05-21 - 2023-05-24 | Bahrain, Bahrain
The EU Global Facility had the privilege of participating in the 36th Plenary and Working Groups Meetings of the held in Manama, #Bahrain 🇧🇭 this week.
We are thrilled to share the highlights of our participation at this esteemed event:
1️⃣ During the 16th Meeting of the Risk Committee on 22nd May 2023, the EU GF, represented by its Key Expert on Regulation/FIU Arnaud STIEN, was part of a panel discussion on “#Transparency of Beneficial Owners – Between International Standards and Most Prominent Regional Practices.” Our panel included representatives from the FATF, IMF, Kingdom of Bahrain, and the UAE. Together, we explored the implications of the FATF’s updated Recommendation 24 and its impact on the EU GF’s work with partner countries.
2️⃣ Mr Stien also shared insights and expertise on using assessments made by other international bodies in the context of the EU GF’s work with partner countries. The EU GF firmly believes in leveraging existing assessments to strengthen the implementation of effective measures.
3️⃣ Our Expert provided valuable guidance on the priorities countries should focus on when implementing a sustainable Beneficial Ownership (BO) framework. The importance of early engagement, high-level and operational commitment, strong public-private partnerships, and forward-looking implementation measures were emphasised.
4️⃣ The EU GF was invited to partake in the Technical Assistance and Training Working Group (TATWG) where Mr Stien presented a comprehensive overview of the activities conducted with MENA countries since 2020.
“We are proud to have trained over 3,000 individuals during almost 100 different activities. In addition to bilateral activities conducted with partner countries such as Algeria, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, and the UAE, we have also organised numerous regional events to foster knowledge sharing and collaboration,” he stated.
📅 Upcoming events include: “Strengthening Judicial Cooperation in the MENA Region: Integrated Approaches to the Investigation and Prosecution of Money Laundering” in Rabat, 5th-7th June 2023.
We are humbled to have received a “Certificate of Appreciation” from MENAFATF Executive Secretary Suliman Al Jabrin, who recognised the project’s significant contributions to the group’s activities in 2022. This recognition further strengthens our commitment to continue and enhance our collaboration with MENAFATF.
👏🏽👏🏽🤝🤝 We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the members, observers, and participants for their valuable contributions and engaging interactions throughout the event. Let’s continue to work together towards a more transparent and secure financial ecosystem in the MENA region and beyond!

Africa NPO Regional Consultation - Best Practices in Countering ML/TF while Preserving Civic Space
2023-05-22 - 2023-05-24 | South Africa, South Africa
Regional consultation on FATF Recommendation 8 revision gathers 18 African countries in Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa – 22 May 2023 – The EU Global Facility on Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing (EU GF-AML/CFT) on Monday launched the Regional Consultation on the revisions of the Best Practices Paper on Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Recommendation 8 in Cape Town, South Africa.
Held under the title “Africa NPO Regional Consultation: Best Practices in Countering Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing While Preserving Civic Space”, the two-day regional consultation is co-organised with the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) and the support of the Global NPO Coalition on FATF.
Around 60 civil society representatives from 18 countries of the Central and Sub-Saharian regions of Africa are participating in these consultations, which aim to discuss the challenges and best practices in the implementation of FATF Recommendation 8 related to the not-for-profit sector.
Officials from the Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG), the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) and the Groupe d’Action contre le Blanchiment d’argent en Afrique Centrale (GABAC), were also in attendance, along with representatives of the South African authorities.
On the second day of the consultations, civil society representatives identified the best practices, challenges and recommendations to be provided to FATF, before discussing their findings with the co-lead on the revision of the Best Practices Paper.
This event is part of a series of regional consultations organised by the EU GF-AML/CFT in co-operation with the Global NPO Coalition on FATF and in co-ordination with the respective FATF Style Regional Bodies. Launched in March 2023 in Buenos Aires for the GAFILAT and CFATF regions, the activity was replicated in Warsaw for the MONEYVAL region a month later. Following this week’s consultations, the EU GF will wrap up its series with two consultations in Amman (MENAFATF region) and Bali (APG region).
Following all iterations, the EU Global Facility shall organise a final global event in September 2023 in Germany, where all recommendations will be merged into the final “Consolidated NPO Common Position” to be submitted to the FATF Secretariat and member states.

Regional workshop on Enhancing Beneficial Ownership Frameworks
2023-05-23 - 2023-05-25 | South Africa, South Africa
Regional conference on beneficial ownership gathers 18 African countries representatives in Cape Town

Cape Town, South Africa – 23 May 2023 – The EU Global Facility on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (EU GF-AML/CFT) on Tuesday, 23 May 2023 kicked off a regional conference on beneficial ownership (BO) as it relates to anti-money laundering and countering terrorist financing. The conference is being held in collaboration with the Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG) secretariat and the Financial Intelligence Centre of the Republic of South Africa.
Held under the title “Beneficial Ownership Disclosure Frameworks in Practice – From Risk Assessment to Beneficial Ownership Registers”, the three-day conference will witness the participation of more than 70 representatives from 18 countries on the African continent, as well as the participation of (TBC) attendees online.

In her opening remarks, Director of the FIC of South Africa, Adv Xolisile Khanyile said “Criminals rely on being able to hide their proceeds and creating distance between themselves and the source of their illicit proceeds. By having timely and accurate information on the beneficial owners of accounts and of property held by corporate vehicles, as well as the source of funds for corporate vehicles, we will be able to better protect the financial system from abuse.”

For her part, ESAAMLG Executive Secretary Fikile Zitha, noted: “this workshop, which is a continuation of the regional BO workshop held in September 2022 in Lusaka, aims to assist member countries in the proper application of transparency of legal persons and arrangements including the establishment of an appropriate framework capturing beneficial ownership information.”“With the great turnout we are seeing today, it sends a strong signal of commitment for adapting to the revised changes being brought,” she added.

The regional workshop, which will consist of interactive exchanges and open discussions, will allow participants to exchange best practices and further deepen their expertise on BO-related matters. Thematic presentations shall also be delivered by experts from Belgium, Latvia, Ukraine and Mozambique.
“Today’s conference shows the European Union’s strong commitment to combatting financial crimes and promoting transparency in the global financial system. We bring together representatives from many African countries, we foster collaborative efforts to establish effective beneficial ownership frameworks and we ultimately collectively safeguard our economies from illicit activities. The EU stands firm in its support for this conference. Together, we can build a more secure and accountable financial landscape for the prosperity of all,” said European Union Ambassador to South Africa, Sandra Kramer.

For his part, EU Global Facility Team Leader David Hotte welcomed the participation of representatives from 18 countries, saying “it is particularly impressive to witness the attendance of so many countries, which shows African nations’ committment to the enhancement of beneficial ownership frameworks within their respective jurisdictions. I am confident that these three days of exchanges will yield great results on risk assessment related to BO and BO registers”.
The conference is part of a series of technical assistance activities delivered by the EU GF-AML/CFT to partner countries around the world. Demand driven and tailor-made, the support is provided on a bilateral, regional and thematic basis. As of May 2023, the project has delivered bilateral assistance to 25 countries globally.

MENAFATF NPO Regional Consultation - Best Practices in Countering ML/TF while Preserving Civic Space
2023-05-30 - 2023-05-31 | Jordan
Regional consultation on FATF Recommendation 8 revision gathers MENAFATF countries in Amman
Amman, Jordan, 30 May 2023 – The EU Global Facility on Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing (EU GF-AML/CFT) on Tuesday launched the Regional Consultation on the revisions of the Best Practices Paper on Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Recommendation 8 in Amman, Jordan.
Held under the title “MENA NPO Regional Consultation: Best Practices in Countering Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing While Preserving Civic Space”, the two-day regional consultation is co-organised with the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) and the support of the Global NPO Coalition on FATF.
Over 40 civil society representatives from Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia and Yemen are participating in these consultations, which aim to discuss the challenges and best practices in the implementation of FATF Recommendation 8 related to the not-for-profit sector.
On the second day of the consultations, civil society representatives identified the best practices, challenges and recommendations to be provided to FATF, before discussing their findings with the co-lead on the revision of the Best Practices Paper.
This event is part of a series of regional consultations organised by the EU GF-AML/CFT in co-operation with the Global NPO Coalition on FATF and in co-ordination with the respective FATF Style Regional Bodies. Launched in March 2023 in Buenos Aires for the GAFILAT and CFATF regions, the activity was replicated in Warsaw for the MONEYVAL region a month later and in Cape Town (ESSAMLG, GABAC and GIABA regions) in May 2023. Following this week’s consultations, the EU GF will wrap up its series with a consultation Bali (APG region).
At the end of all these iterations, the EU Global Facility shall organise a final global event in September 2023 in Germany, where all recommendations will be merged into the final “Consolidated NPO Common Position” to be submitted to the FATF Secretariat and member states.

Regional Conference on Strengthening Judicial Cooperation in the MENA Region - Morocco
2023-06-05 - 2023-06-07 | Morocco, Morocco
Press Release
2nd Regional conference on judicial cooperation in the MENA region launched in Rabat, Morocco
Rabat, 5 June 2023 – The EU Global Facility on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT), in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice of Morocco, the Siracusa International Institute for Criminal Justice and Human Rights, and MENAFATF, is proud to announce the launch of a Regional Conference on Judicial Cooperation in the MENA region today in Rabat.
The conference, which will last until Wednesday 7 June 2023, shall be held under the theme “Strengthening Judicial Cooperation in the MENA: Integrated Approaches to the Investigation and Prosecution of Money Laundering.” It welcomes over 140 participants from 21 countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, as well as representatives from international organisations like the United Nations and the International Monetary Fund.
Building on the success and outcomes of a first conference held in Bahrain, in March 2022, this event aims to provide a platform for representatives of institutions from MENA countries to discuss their collective and individual responses to AML/CFT threats. It will serve as a forum to share best practices, coordinate approaches, and further enhance the region’s capacity in combating financial crimes.
EU Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco, Ms Patricia Llombart Cussac.
The MENA region faces significant challenges in dealing with money laundering and terrorist financing. Recognising the importance of judicial cooperation in effectively addressing these threats, the conference will bring together high-level officials, experts, and practitioners from the region and beyond. It will foster dialogue, knowledge exchange, and the development of strategies to strengthen the investigation and prosecution of money laundering cases.
In an online address, Executive Secretary of the MENAFATF, Sulaiman AlJabrin, stated: “in a world that is proceeding in its battle against money laundering crimes according to a system that is constantly being developed to keep pace with the latest criminal developments, the Financial Action Task Force has established foundations and rules that guarantee a reasonable limit to stand firmly in the face of these crimes, address them, and bring criminals to justice.”
“Financial Intelligence Units, judges and public prosecutors play a fundamental role in achieving justice at the end of these lengthy processes. Criminals cannot be deterred without us working to strengthen and enhance cooperation between judicial authorities to resolve the battle and ensure winning the bet. This confirms the importance of this conference for the member states of the MENA region, and I call for intensified cooperation between all actors present here,” he concluded.
The conference will feature engaging panel discussions, interactive workshops, and expert presentations, providing participants with valuable insights into emerging trends, effective investigative techniques, and successful prosecution strategies. Through these activities, attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of the complexities surrounding AML/CFT efforts in the MENA region and identify opportunities for enhanced collaboration.
Key speakers at the conference will include prominent figures from the fields of the judiciary, financial intelligence units, and relevant international organisations such as the IMF, the UN and the AGRASC. Their expertise and experience will contribute to meaningful discussions and the formulation of practical recommendations to enhance regional cooperation and improve the effectiveness of AML/CFT measures.

South Africa NPO Sectoral Risk Assessment
2023-06-12 - 2023-06-13 | South Africa, South Africa
#SouthAfrica NPO Risk Assessment Workshop starts today
Spanning over the course of two days, this online activity will provide a valuable platform for participants to finetune South Africa’s NPO Risk Assessment, while fostering collaboration between representatives from several African countries.
This comes a month after our very successful NPO Regional Consultations held in Cape Town in XXX (for more details, watch this video)
Today, participants are taking part in a stimulating exchange between South African, Kenyan, and Mozambican authorities, focusing on the Sectoral NPO RA. By engaging in this continent-wide dialogue, South African authorities will gain valuable knowledge and a comprehensive understanding of the current landscape in other countries within the region.
As for the second day, the EU Global Facility experts will focus on the progress made in implementing the RA, specifically within the South African context. The day will be dedicated to working closely with the SA technical group, reviewing their achievements thus far and charting the course for future engagement.
Ultimately, this risk assessment aims to foster a secure and resilient environment for non-profit organisations in South Africa.

E-training on Statistics on Police for Ecuador
2023-07-03 | Ecuador, Ecuador
E-training on statistics wraps up for Ecuador police 🇪🇨
Following the success of the first module , which covered general statistical concepts (March 2023), the EU Global Facility is delighted to announce it just concluded the 2nd module of a training series on statistics related to police forces.
This two-day training put a specific emphasis on Immediate Outcome 7, as identified by Ecuador’s Mutual Evaluation Report approved in July 2022, as “containing areas for improvement”.

The online training, delivered by a Spanish expert, brought together a diverse range of participants, including representatives from the FIU, police, prosecution, the judiciary, and the assets recovery entity, among others. By fostering collaboration among these crucial stakeholders, the training aimed to enhance the effectiveness of statistical practices and support Ecuador’s ongoing efforts to combat financial crimes.
📊 The training series -the first to be delivered on the subject of statistics by the EU Global Facility- was officially requested by Ecuador. In light of its successful implementation, Argentina and Uruguay have already formulated requests for similar training to be implemented in their jurisdiction.
💡The EU Global Facility began delivering technical assistance activities to the new partner country back in March 2023.
