Technical assistance & capacity building of the EU AML/CFT Global Facility

Launch of the EU Global Facility on AML/CFT

In 2017, the European Commission established the EU Global Facility on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (GF-AML/CFT), as its operational tool to provide demand driven support to third countries based on the deficiencies in their AML/CFT regimes.

The EU GF-AML/CFT seeks to support the adoption by third countries of enhanced measures designed to prevent money laundering and cut off access to funding for individual terrorists and terrorist organisations, through increased compliance with the EU AML/CFT Framework, FATF Recommendations and relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.

By supporting third country efforts to operate more efficient and effective AML/CFT systems and participate in an interconnected AML/CFT global network, the project reinforces European measures aimed at protecting the EU’s financial system. This leads to reduced financial flows from the informal economy and from organised crime to terrorist organisations, hindered use of serious organised crime proceeds and improved asset recovery mechanisms.

Budget:

20 150 000 euros

Duration:

69 months (2017 - 2023)

Financed and managed by

the European Commission’s Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI). It is implemented by Expertise France (FR), in partnership with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit – GIZ (DE) and Northern Ireland – Cooperation Overseas – NI-CO (UK).

View project factsheet

We operate all around the world

How We Work

The EU Global Facility on AML/CFT provides third countries with access to various forms of technical assistance, tailor made to their specific needs and upon demand. These activities are organised around three separate but intertwined pillars, each corresponding to one of the three project objectives:

Pillar 1: Strengthening the AML/CFT legislative, regulatory and policy framework

Technical assistance activities include evaluating existing legislative and regulatory frameworks, developing and strengthening them in-line with international standards; developing the analytical and policy frameworks; integrating specific elements (such as beneficial ownership) into the legal framework; and ensuring that laws and regulations contain specific provisions related to civil society and non-profit organisations.

Pillar 2: Building AML/CFT institutional capacity

This component provides capacity building support to AML/CFT actors in partner countries, including regulatory authorities, Financial Investigation Units, law enforcement agencies, the judiciary, specialised asset recovery bodies, civil society actors, including the media.

Pillar 3: Increasing national, regional and international cooperation on AML/CFT issues

This entails supporting international standard setting efforts and the development of bilateral agreements; promoting cooperation with/between regional or international organisations, groups and networks; supporting the creation of new AML/CFT networks; sponsoring participation in regional and international AML/CFT processes and events; and facilitating dialogue and cooperation between civil society actors, the private sector and public authorities.

These three pillars provide technical assistance across the entire financial intelligence and penal chain. Support is available for the detection, assessment, investigation, decision and recovery stages.

Stages of the financial investigation and penal chain

Detection

Assessment

Investigation

Decision

Recovery

Key principles

Improve the AML/CFT legislative, regulatory framework

Foster AML/CFT analytical and operational capacity

Improve the effectiveness and efficiency of AML/CFT

Tailored technical assistance: the project develops sustainable, two-way street partnerships with third country authorities, acknowledging the unicity of each country.

Regional integrated approach: the EU GF-AML/CFT closely associates with FATF Regional FATF Style Regional Bodies in delivering technical assistance.

Flexibility and innovation: the facility adopts a pioneering approach, addressing under-researched topics and developing...

Cross fertilisation: experts trained in one country later deliver capacity building training in new contexts.

EU principles of subsidiarity and complementarity: the project complements existing and/or previous AML/CFT activities to avoid duplication or inefficient overlapping of activities.