Among the EU Member States, there is strong resistance to a planned blacklist of countries that are resolutely against money laundering and terrorist financing. As news agency AFP learned yesterday from EU circles, 27 of the 28 member states were against a proposal for a list drawn up by the EU Commission in a trial vote. Particularly controversial is the inclusion of Saudi Arabia, Panama and four US territories.
In mid-February, the European Commission presented a list of 23 states and „high-risk“ areas for money laundering and terrorist financing. Among them are the US territories of Samoa, US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Guam. In the future, European banks would have to introduce increased controls on transactions with customers and institutions from these countries and territories in order to better recognize suspicious cash flows.
Time is pressing
As a result of the trial vote, the Romanian Council Presidency, according to AFP information, now put a „technical“ meeting on the list. There, the EU Commission will explain the criteria for the selection of countries.
In addition, the EU states want to decide at the meeting on the further course of action and a possible formal vote. If the criteria for the list need to be revised, it is unlikely to be finished as planned until the meeting of EU finance ministers on 12 March.
