Unic Press UK: The European Union (EU) has adopted a fresh list of 23 third countries with weak counter-terrorist financing frameworks and anti-money laundering regimes.
The countries in the list are Afghanistan, American Samoa, The Bahamas, Botswana, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guam, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Puerto Rico, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, US Virgin Islands, Yemen.
In a press release http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-19-781_en.htm on Wednesday, the EU said its aim is to protect the EU financial system by better preventing money laundering and terrorist financing risks; and provide banks and other entities covered by EU anti-money laundering rules with relevant information to apply increased checks (due diligence) on financial operations involving customers and financial institutions from these high-risk third countries.
“We have established the strongest anti-money laundering standards in the world, but we have to make sure that dirty money from other countries does not find its way to our financial system. Dirty money is the lifeblood of organised crime and terrorism. I invite the countries listed to remedy their deficiencies swiftly. The Commission stands ready to work closely with them to address these issues in our mutual interest,” EC’s Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, Věra Jourová said.
