AML/CFT Stakeholders

AMLA, or Autorité européenne de lutte contre le blanchiment de capitaux et le financement du terrorisme (ALBC), is a decentralised agency of the European Union. Its role is to coordinate national authorities to ensure the correct and consistent application of EU rules in the field of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CFT).

The objective of the EU Authority is to transform AML/CFT supervision within the EU and strengthen cooperation between Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs).

AMLA’s primary responsibilities include:

• Direct supervision of certain high-risk financial sector entities operating on a cross-border basis, as well as indirect oversight of other entities in both the financial and non-financial sectors.
• Support and coordination of FIUs by: facilitating joint analysis of cross-border cases; enabling controlled information exchange; providing advanced data analysis tools and services; and managing the FIU.net common information system.
• Supplementary rulemaking by developing regulatory and implementing technical standards and publishing guidelines to complement EU AML/CFT rules.

AMLA is headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Website: AMLA – European Anti-Money Laundering Authority

OLAF investigates investigates fraud affecting the EU budget, cases of corruption, and serious misconduct within European institutions. It also develops anti-fraud policy for the European Commission.

The EU budget funds a wide range of programmes and projects designed to improve the lives of citizens across the Union and beyond. The misuse of EU funds—or the evasion of taxes, duties, or levies that finance this budget—directly harms European citizens and undermines the broader European project.

OLAF fulfils its mission by:

• Conducting independent investigations into fraud and corruption involving EU funds, ensuring that European taxpayers’ money is used to finance projects that create jobs and foster growth in Europe.
• Strengthening citizen trust in EU institutions by investigating serious misconduct by staff and members of EU bodies.
• Developing a robust anti-fraud policy for the Union.

Website: European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)

Europol, headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, supports its Member States in preventing and combating serious organised and international crime, cybercrime, and terrorism. It also collaborates with non-EU partner countries and international organisations outside the EU.

Large-scale criminal and terrorist networks pose a significant threat to the internal security of the European Union, as well as to the safety and daily lives of its citizens. The primary security threats include:

• Terrorism
• International drug trafficking and money laundering
• Organised fraud
• Counterfeiting of the euro
• Human trafficking

Website: About Europol – Helping to Make Europe Safer

Eurojust collaborates with national authorities to combat a broad spectrum of serious and complex cross-border crimes involving two or more countries. The Agency leads the judicial response to escalating threats in Europe, enabling Member States to stay ahead of criminal networks, with a primary focus on organised crime. Cases brought before Eurojust often involve multiple types of offences.

Priority offences include:

• Terrorism
• Cybercrime
• Human trafficking
• Drug trafficking
• Crimes affecting the EU’s financial interests
• Migrant smuggling
• Environmental crime
• Money laundering
• Fraud and scams

Website: Eurojust – European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation

The EPPO is responsible for investigating, prosecuting, and bringing to judgment perpetrators and accomplices of criminal offences affecting the financial interests of the European Union. In this capacity, the EPPO conducts investigations, undertakes prosecutions, and represents the public interest before the competent courts of the Member States until a case is definitively adjudicated.

Its mandate covers the investigation, prosecution, and trial of individuals involved in criminal offences such as:

• Fraud involving EU funds exceeding €10,000
• Corruption damaging the EU’s financial interests
• Cross-border VAT fraud causing total damage of €10 million or more
• Misappropriation of EU funds or assets by a public official
• Money laundering
• Any other criminal offence inextricably linked to the above categories

Website: European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO)

The EBA is the independent EU agency responsible for implementing a regulatory and supervisory framework for the banking sector across all EU Member States. Its mission is to foster an efficient, transparent, and stable single market for banking products within the EU.

The EBA’s core activities include:

• Contributing to the development of a single rulebook for the EU banking sector.
• Facilitating the centralised reporting of prudential data on EU banks to enhance transparency, market discipline, and financial stability across the Union.
• Encouraging cross-border cooperation among national authorities in the supervision of banking groups operating in multiple countries, and mediating disputes between Member States.
• Promoting a transparent, simple, and fair EU market for consumers of financial products and services, ensuring equal treatment and protection for all consumers throughout the EU.

Website: About the EBA – European Banking Authority

EIOPA is the independent EU agency responsible for implementing a regulatory and supervisory framework for the insurance and occupational pensions sectors across all EU Member States.

EIOPA’s core activities include:

• Contributing to the stability of the financial system.
• Ensuring transparency in financial markets and products.
• Helping to protect policyholders, scheme members, and pension beneficiaries.

Website: EIOPA – European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority

ESMA is the independent EU agency dedicated to enhancing investor protection and fostering the stability and orderly functioning of financial markets.

ESMA’s core activities include:

• Investor Protection: Ensuring financial service consumers’ needs are better addressed while strengthening their rights as investors, alongside acknowledging their responsibilities.
• Market Integrity: Promoting the transparency, efficiency, and orderly operation of financial markets, as well as ensuring robust market infrastructure.
• Financial Stability: Strengthening the financial system to enhance its resilience to shocks and mitigate financial imbalances, thereby supporting economic growth.
• Supervisory Coordination: Facilitating cooperation among securities regulators and adopting emergency measures in times of crisis.

Website: ESMA – European Securities and Markets Authority