The Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism (MONEYVAL) held its 61st Plenary meeting in Strasbourg from 28 to 30 April 2021. This was the second MONEYVAL Plenary taking place in a hybrid mode, with delegations participating virtually.

The Director of Information Society and Action against Crime of the Council of Europe Mr Jan Kleijssen opened the meeting by underlining MONEYVAL’s essential role as a specialised Council of Europe monitoring body and as a key partner in the global network in the area of anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism, led by the FATF.

The Plenary discussed and approved the mutual evaluation reports of San Marino and the Holy See/Vatican City State. MONEYVAL also adopted follow-up reports of Albania, Hungary, Malta and Slovenia. The Committee also adopted a number of documents related to cooperation with the Parliamentary Assembly and the Committee on Counterterrorism of the Council of Europe.

The Committee committed to promoting the added value of Council of Europe anti-money laundering standards in the Global Network led by the FATF, and in particular the provisions of the Council of Europe Warsaw Convention (CETS 198) related to the powers of the Financial Intelligence Units. In this context, the Plenary held a pertinent exchange of views with Mr Jerome Beaumont, the Executive Secretary of the Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units.

Adopted reports will be published in the coming weeks, in accordance with MONEYVAL’s publication policy.