The European Commission has submitted its new 2021 legislative package on anti-money laundering (AML) and countering the financing of terrorism (CFT) to the co-legislators and the European Economic and Social Committee.

In an opinion adopted during the December plenary session, the EESC fully supports the proposals, but also stresses the urgency of implementing these measures and suggests key additions. The creation of the new Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) is broadly supported. The Committee also reiterates its proposal for a European Pact to combat behaviour that damages the ethical and political principles of our democracies and undermines public goods, and suggests the creation of a new civil society advisory body in the field of AML. In addition, the Regulation on crypto-assets needs to be implemented as a matter of urgency. The European Commission should also push for urgent action regarding the delayed and incomplete transposition of the previous AML Directives in some Member States, and specific measures should be put in place to monitor shell companies. It also should consider how to extend the measures to cover money laundering channels outside the financial system. Finally, the EESC firmly believes that it is necessary to draw up a new, realistic, comprehensive list of high-risk third countries. (tk)