黑料社区

黑料社区 describes inclusion on EU 鈥榙irty money鈥 list as regrettable

Update 黑料社区 describes inclusion on EU 鈥榙irty money鈥 list as regrettable
黑料社区鈥檚 commitment to combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism is a strategic priority. (Shutterstock)
Updated 14 February 2019

黑料社区 describes inclusion on EU 鈥榙irty money鈥 list as regrettable

黑料社区 describes inclusion on EU 鈥榙irty money鈥 list as regrettable
  • Saudi authorities highlighted the efforts being made by the Kingdom to combat such crimes

JEDDAH:聽黑料社区 has expressed its regret about the decision by the European Commission to place the Kingdom on a blacklist of 23 non-EU countries and territories accused of posing a high risk of money laundering and financing terrorism. In response, Saudi authorities highlighted the efforts being made by the Kingdom to combat such crimes.
鈥淭he Kingdom finds it it regrettable that it was included in the proposed list of 鈥榟igh-risk鈥 countries for money laundering and terrorist financing that was issued by the European Commission on Feb. 13, 2019,鈥 Saudi authorities said in a statement released by the Saudi Press Association. 鈥淭his comes despite the Kingdom鈥檚 ratification of many laws and procedures relating to combating money laundering and terrorist financing, to reduce the risks associated with such crimes.鈥
It added that the Kingdom reaffirms its strong commitment to the joint global efforts to combat money-laundering and the financing of terrorism, as part of which it works with international partners and allies.
鈥満诹仙缜, who is a key partner in the international coalition against Daesh, has been leading a group, along with the United States and Italy, to fight the financing of the group,鈥 the statement continued.
鈥淭he Saudi Mutual Evaluation Report, published by Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in September 2018, praised 黑料社区鈥檚 commitment to the group鈥檚 recommendations. The FATF report stated that the Kingdom鈥檚 preventive measures against money laundering and terrorist financing are strong and robust.鈥
The Kingdom has a legal framework and coordinated procedures in place for the swift implementation of targeted financial sanctions imposed by the United Nations, it added.
鈥満诹仙缜檚 commitment to combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism is a strategic priority and we will continue to develop and improve our regulatory and legislative frameworks to achieve this goal,鈥 said Mohammed Al-Jadaan, the Saudi minister of finance.
鈥淭he announcement by the European Commission that the Kingdom will be included in the proposed list of high-risk countries for money laundering and terrorist financing will have to pass the voting stage in the European Parliament before it becomes effective.鈥
The minister invited European Commission officials and members of the European Parliament to visit Riyadh to learn about the Kingdom鈥檚 ongoing efforts and initiatives to combat money-laundering and the financing of terrorism at local, regional and international levels.
Al-Jadaan added that The Kingdom looks forward to a constructive dialogue with its partners in the European Union to help strengthen and support efforts to combat the flow of 鈥榙irty money.鈥
The Saudi response came just hours after the US聽Treasury on Wednesday expressed 鈥渟ignificant concerns鈥 about the substance of the European Commission list, which was released the previous day. It pointed out that the聽FATF is the global standard-setting body for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing, and that the task force 鈥 the members of which include the US, the European Commission, 15 EU member states and 20 other jurisdictions 鈥攁lready compiles a list of high-risk countries as part of a careful and comprehensive process.
The Treasury聽said the EU commission had聽not given the listed countries sufficient time to discuss regulations, and added聽that it did not expect US聽financial institutions to take the EU聽list into account when deciding policies and procedures.
EU Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova said on Wednesday that the list, which also includes countries such as North Korea and Nigeria, will help to increase checks and investigations on financial operations to find 鈥渟uspicious money flows.鈥
鈥淲e have to make sure that dirty money from other countries does not find its way to our financial system,鈥 she said. 鈥淓urope cannot be a laundromat for dirty money.鈥
The list will now go to the European Parliament and member states for approval over the next few weeks.