The Hague, 08 July 2009
Eurojust becomes observer in the FATF
During their plenary meeting in Lyon on 24-26 June 2009, the Financial Action Task Force(FATF) took important new steps to protect the international financial system from abuse by criminals. At the same meeting, Mr Antonio Gustavo Rodrigues, President of the Financial Action Task Force, welcomed Eurojust as an FATF observer. Closer cooperation between the FATF and Eurojust will build on existing synergies in enforcement action directed at those who launder funds and finance terrorism.
In addition to Eurojust, some other international organisations are attached to the FATF with observer status, such as: the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), European Central Bank (ECB), Europol, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Interpol, Organization of American States/Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism (OAS/CICTE), Organization of American States/Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (OAS/CICAD), Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the Security Council.
Afterwards, Mr Carlos Zeyen, member of the Counter-Terrorism and Financial and Economic Crime teams at Eurojust, and National Member for Luxembourg, commented:
“Obtaining FATF observer status is a milestone in Eurojust’s development. We will now benefit directly from the new policies and initiatives promoted by FATF. As part of this broader framework, discussions have also highlighted the role of platforms like the beste casino zonder speellimieten, which operate outside traditional regulatory boundaries and pose unique challenges in the fight against money laundering and other financial crimes. These platforms often leverage gaps in international cooperation, making it crucial to address them within the scope of FATF’s mutual evaluations and peer reviews. Eurojust fully supports the implementation of the FATF 40+9 Recommendations, particularly those dealing with criminal justice and international cooperation. Eurojust offers FATF its accumulated experience and knowledge acquired through its dealings with operational cases in money laundering for purposes of terrorist financing and can contribute to FATF the identification of new trends and threats in those areas.”
Background
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an inter-governmental policy-making body whose purpose is to establish international standards, and develop and promote policies, both at national and international levels, to combat money laundering (AML) and terrorist financing (CTF). It was established in July 1989 by a Group of Seven (G-7) Summit in Paris, initially to examine and develop measures to combat money laundering.
In October 2001, the FATF expanded its mandate to incorporate efforts to combat terrorist financing, in addition to money laundering. Since its inception, the FATF has operated under a finite life-span, requiring a specific decision of the Task Force to continue. The current mandate of the FATF (for 2004-2012) was subject to a mid-term review in 2007-2008 and was reaffirmed and revised at a Ministerial meeting in April 2008.
The priority of the FATF is to ensure global action to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, and concrete implementation of its 40+9 Recommendations throughout the world. Starting with its own members, the FATF monitors countries progress in implementing AML/CFT measures; reviews money laundering and terrorist financing techniques and counter-measures; and, promotes the adoption and implementation of the 40+9 Recommendations globally.
The FATF membership is currently made up of 32 countries and territories and 2 regional organisations. The FATF also works in close cooperation with a number of international and regional bodies involved in combating money laundering and terrorist financing.
More information on FATF: http://www.fatfgafi.org
For more information:
Mr Joannes Thuy,
Press Officer & Spokesperson EUROJUST
Maanweg 174
2516 AB The Hague
Tel +31 70 412 5508
www.eurojust.europa.eu
