At its plenary session in Strasbourg the European Parliament did not reject on Wednesday July 9 the delegated regulation updating the list of high-risk jurisdictions in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing.
Despite the criticism levelled at the European Commission and its methodology (see EUROPE 13671/22), none of the four motions to reject received sufficient votes (see EUROPE 13673/24). The European Parliament therefore endorsed the addition of ten jurisdictions to the list – Algeria, Angola, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Laos, Lebanon, Monaco, Namibia, Nepal and Venezuela – and the removal of eight others – Barbados, Gibraltar, Jamaica, Panama, the Philippines, Senegal, Uganda and the United Arab Emirates.
“We have repeatedly asked the Commission to proceed on a country-by-country basis”, stressed Aurore Lalucq (S&D, French), chair of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON), at a press briefing the previous day. She deplored the absence of Russia from the list and the lack of evidence to remove the United Arab Emirates.
Before the vote, Commissioner for Financial Services Maria Luís Albuquerque explained that an amendment to the regulation had been adopted the previous day. It tasks the Commission to conclude, by the end of the year, the review of third countries that are not identified as being subject to calls for action or increased monitoring by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), but whose membership of this body has been suspended. The Commission will then be able to take an informed decision on whether it is necessary to amend the European list. (Original version in French by Anne Damiani, with the editorial staff)