EU adopts tougher rules on money laundering

11 October 2018

The Council adopted a new anti money laundering directive. This directive introduces new criminal law provisions which will disrupt and block access by criminals to financial resources, including those used for terrorist activities.

The new rules include:

• establishing minimum rules on the definition of criminal offences and sanctions relating to money laundering. Money laundering activities will be punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of 4 years, and judges may impose additional sanctions and measures (e.g. temporary or permanent exclusion from access to public funding, fines, etc.). Aggravating circumstances will apply to cases linked to criminal organisations or for offences conducted in the exercise of certain professional activities.
• the possibility of holding legal entities liable for certain money laundering activities which can face a range of sanctions (e.g. exclusion from public aid, placement under judicial supervision, judicial winding-up, etc.)
• removing obstacles to cross-border judicial and police cooperationby setting common provisions to improve investigations. For cross-border cases, the new rules clarify  which member state has jurisdiction, and how those member states involved cooperate, as well as how to involve Eurojust. 

Directive on countering money laundering by criminal law (PE-CONS 30/18)

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