{"id":2608,"date":"2024-12-05T15:35:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-05T14:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rp.pleeg-staging.de\/?post_type=news&p=2608"},"modified":"2025-06-17T18:48:19","modified_gmt":"2025-06-17T16:48:19","slug":"geldwaeschepraevention-2024-regpits-jahresrueckblick","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/rp.pleeg-staging.de\/eng\/news\/geldwaeschepraevention-2024-regpits-jahresrueckblick\/","title":{"rendered":"Anti-Money Laundering 2024: Regpit\u2019s Year in Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First Quarter 2024<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Amendment of the German Anti-Money Laundering Act (GwG) through the MoPeG<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
1 January 2024<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The German Anti-Money Laundering Act (GwG) was amended as part of the reform of partnership law (MoPeG) on 1 January 2024. Section 12 (2) sentence 1 GwG now includes \u201clegal partnerships\u201d to reflect the new legal form of the registered GbR (eGbR). The identity of the eGbR must be verified via an extract from the new Company Register (Gesellschaftsregister \u2013 GsR), which is publicly accessible free of charge. Additionally, the eGbR must be registered in the Transparency Register, as stated in the FAQs of the Federal Office of Administration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2192 Law on the Modernisation of Partnership Law (MoPeG)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Account blocking following suspicious transaction report \u2013 ruling of the LG Frankfurt<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
January 2024<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Suspicious transaction reports under Section 43 GwG pose many challenges in practice. According to a court decision, obligated entities should not impose complete or prolonged account freezes under Section 46 GwG. The court held that transactions reported as suspicious should, in general, be processed promptly once the three-day holding period expires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, uncertainty remains: this contradicts BaFin\u2019s view that the three-day period is a minimum. Furthermore, transactions related to a follow-up report or posing a clear money laundering risk may still justify a longer freeze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2192 Blog post on account blocking after STR<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Provisional agreement between the European Parliament and the Council on the EU AML package<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
18 January 2024<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The Council and Parliament reached a provisional agreement on parts of the AML package, which aims to protect EU citizens and the financial system from money laundering and terrorist financing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2192 Council press release<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hearings on the seat of AMLA<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
30 January<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Hearings for the candidate cities for the new EU Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) took place, including Germany\u2019s bid to host the authority in Frankfurt am Main.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2192 Hearing on AMLA seat<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Final decision: AMLA to be located in Frankfurt<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
22 February 2024<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The Council and Parliament decided that the AMLA will be headquartered in Frankfurt. AMLA is expected to become operational in mid-2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2192 European Council press release<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIU publishes guidance on reporting criminal complaints<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
March 2024<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

\u2192 Information from the FIU<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second Quarter 2024<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Europol publishes study on criminal networks<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5 April 2024<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Europol\u2019s study \u201cDecoding EU\u2019s Most Threatening Criminal Networks\u201d analyzes 821 criminal networks operating in the EU. Germany is identified as a key location, with criminal activities including fraud, drug trafficking, and human smuggling. According to the study, many networks launder money through legal businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2192 Europol report highlights Europe\u2019s most dangerous criminal networks<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2192 Study by EUROPOL<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consultation launched on draft regulation for video identification<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
18 April 2024<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The German Federal Ministry of Finance has published a draft regulation for anti-money laundering identification via video (Money Laundering Video Identification Regulation \u2013 GwVideoIdentV).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2192 Draft Regulation on Video Identification (GwVideoIdentV)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Draft law to combat asset concealment published<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
23 April 2024<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The German Ministry of Finance released a draft for the Law to Protect the Economic and Financial System from the Concealment and Introduction of Significant Incriminated Assets (Verm\u00f6gensverschleierungsbek\u00e4mpfungsgesetz).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2192 Draft law on asset concealment<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

EU Parliament passes AML package<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
24 April 2024<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

On 24 April 2024, the EU Parliament formally approved the long-negotiated AML reform package, including the new EU Anti-Money Laundering Regulation (EU-AML-VO), updates to the AML Directive, and the regulation establishing the AMLA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2192 EU rules on fighting money laundering<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Council of the EU adopts AML package<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
31 May 2024<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

\u2192 European Council press release<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

14th EU sanctions package adopted<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
24 June 2024<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The EU adopted its 14th sanctions package against Russia, focusing on better enforcement and prevention of sanctions circumvention. Measures include restrictions on Russian LNG, a ban on Russian funding for political parties, foundations, and NGOs, and sanctions against 69 individuals and 47 entities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2192 German Federal Government press release<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2192 EU Commission Q&A on the AML package<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Third Quarter 2024<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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New FATF president elected<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
1 July 2024<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Mexican lawyer Elisa de Anda Madrazo assumed the role of FATF President. She previously served as Vice-President from 2020 to 2023, alongside Dr. Marcus Pleyer and T. Raja Kumar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2192 FATF press release<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

BaFin publishes draft for revised guidance (AuA)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
7 July 2024<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

BaFin published a draft of its revised interpretation and application notes pursuant to \u00a7\u202f51 (8) of the German AML Act (GwG), inviting stakeholders to submit comments. A central point of criticism is that the draft preempts regulations from the EU-AML Regulation, effectively shortening the transitional period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2192 Draft for updated guidance<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

German Ministry of Finance releases draft of revised real estate AML reporting regulation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2 August 2024<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The Federal Ministry of Finance released a draft for a new version of the AML Reporting Regulation for Real Estate (GwGMeldV-Immobilien). The aim is to align reporting obligations with the cash payment ban in real estate transactions (\u00a7\u202f16a GwG) that has been in effect since 1 April 2023. Reporting duties related to suspicious pricing and payment methods are also clarified to avoid unnecessary suspicion reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2192 Draft regulation GwGMeldV-Immobilien<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) publishes national report on organized crime<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5 September 2024<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The annually updated national situation report \u201cOrganized Crime\u201d by the German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) summarizes current insights into the state and development of organized crime in Germany, based on police investigations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2192 Organized Crime situation report<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fourth Quarter 2024<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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FATF announces new methodology for listing jurisdictions under increased monitoring<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
17 October 2024<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The aim of revising the criteria for placing countries on watchlists is to reduce pressure on the least developed countries and to focus more on jurisdictions that pose higher risks to the international financial system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2192 Changes to FATF grey list criteria<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Official website of AMLA<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
23 October 2024<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The new European Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) has launched its official website! There you can learn more about the authority\u2019s future tasks and browse current job postings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2192 Homepage of AMLA<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

FATF plenary meeting results<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
25 October 2024<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

On 25 October, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) published the outcomes of its plenary meeting held from 23\u201325 October 2024. One key agenda item was the update of the FATF grey list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2192 Summary of FATF plenary results<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIU Annual Report 2023<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
6 November 2024<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The 2023 annual report of Germany\u2019s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has been published. A total of 322,590 suspicious activity reports (SARs) were submitted to the FIU during the reporting year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2192 FIU <\/a>Annual report<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

EBA guidelines on harmonised standards for sanctions implementation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
14 November 2024<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The European Banking Authority (EBA) published two new guidelines that, for the first time, define uniform EU-wide standards. These concern the policies, procedures, and controls that financial institutions must implement to ensure the enforcement of EU and national sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2192 EBA Guidelines<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bruna Szego nominated as AMLA president by the European Parliament<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
26 November 2024<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The European Parliament has nominated Italian candidate Bruna Szego to lead the new anti-money laundering authority. AMLA now has an unofficial president-elect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BaFin updates its interpretation and application guidance (AuA)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
29 November 2024<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) has updated its guidance on the German AML Act. In addition, BaFin and the FIU jointly published new orientation guidelines for submitting suspicious activity reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2192 Updated AuA 2024<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Basel AML Index 2024 published<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2 December 2024<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The Basel AML Index is an independent ranking that evaluates countries based on their risk of money laundering and terrorist financing, as well as their ability to effectively counter those risks. This year, the methodology was updated to include two new indicators based on fraud data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2192 Basel AML Index 2024<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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