On 20 May 2025, an awareness-raising seminar addressing terrorist financing (TF) risks for non-profit organisations (NPOs) in Bulgaria took place in Sofia, Bulgaria. The event which was organised in close cooperation with the Financial Intelligence Directorate of the State Agency for National Security (FID-SANS) and the Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law, brought together representatives from the NPO sector, government institutions, and international experts to deepen understanding of TF threats and promote stronger safeguards within the sector.
Discussions focused on the specific TF risks facing Bulgarian NPOs, including exposure to high-risk regions, the increasing use of alternative fundraising channels such as crowdfunding and virtual assets, and vulnerabilities related to engagement with at-risk communities. In this regard, FID-SANS provided an overview of the national threat landscape and its implications for the sector.
Participants also exchanged on relevant international standards and regulatory obligations applicable to NPOs, alongside practical approaches for effective risk management and due diligence. The seminar highlighted the challenge of balancing the NPOs’ mission with their countering terrorist financing (CTF) responsibilities, emphasising the importance of proportionate compliance measures and the availability of tailored support mechanisms.
The event further underscored the crucial role of the non-profit sector in national and international efforts to combat terrorist financing and explored opportunities to enhance ongoing support aimed at strengthening compliance and resilience across the sector.
This event is part of broader efforts to assist Bulgarian authorities in implementing the recommendations of the 2023 MONEYVAL mutual evaluation, which called for a thorough review of the NPO sector’s exposure to TF risks. As part of this process, a national risk assessment was conducted to identify NPOs potentially vulnerable to misuse for terrorist financing. Follow-up actions are now underway to align oversight practices with international standards, focusing on proportionate, risk-based approaches tailored to the sector’s specificities.
The activity was organised within the framework of the Technical Support Instrument (TSI) project on “Enhancing the capabilities for risk-based AML supervision and financial intelligence in Bulgaria”, jointly funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, and implemented by the Council of Europe.