Technical Support Instrument (TSI) Project on: Enhancing the anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) framework in Bulgaria

Within the framework of the 2025 Council of Europe/European Union Technical Support Instrument (TSI) envelope, the Economic Crime and Cooperation Division is supporting Bulgarian authorities in further enhancing the anti-money laundering/combatting the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) regime in Bulgaria through enhancing the capacities of competent Bulgarian authorities to effectively investigate and prosecute money laundering and terrorist financing (ML/TF) cases. The project starts on 16 October 2025 and will last for 12 months. Through tailored activities, the project aims to contribute to:

• Enhancing the legal and operational framework for investigating and prosecuting ML/TF cases, in line with MONEYVAL recommendations and FATF standards.
• Strengthening the capacities of Bulgarian law enforcement, financial intelligence unit and prosecutors to effectively process ML/TF cases and related asset recovery and confiscation (including parallel financial investigations in TF cases and use of circumstantial evidence).

Areas of specific focus include the operationalisation of Bulgaria’s recent AML/CFT legislative reforms by delivering legal reviews, comparative good-practice analyses, and peer-to-peer exchanges with EU partners. The project will place particular emphasis on reforms related to terrorist financing offences (FATF R.5) and the conduct of parallel financial investigations. Through expert assessments and inter-agency consultations, the project will strengthen coordination and investigative effectiveness. A practitioner’s manual and a strategic training plan will support sustainable capacity-building across law enforcement, FIU, and prosecution services. Finally, specialised training on advanced parallel financial investigations in terrorist financing cases and on using circumstantial evidence will further enhance Bulgaria’s ability to handle ML/TF cases and related confiscations, improving long-term investigation and prosecution outcomes.

The project budget is 344,827 Euros. The project is co-funded by the European Union via the Technical Support Instrument and Council of Europe and is and implemented by the Council of Europe (Economic Crime and Cooperation Division), in cooperation with the European Commission.

 More information on the cooperation between the EC SG REFORM and the Council of Europe can be found here.