The MONEYVAL Strategy for 2023-2027 and the High-Level Declaration of MONEYVAL priorities were approved
On April 25, during the High-Level Meeting of MONEYVAL held in Warsaw, the Republic of Poland, with the participation of the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine and the State Financial Monitoring Service of Ukraine, the MONEYVAL Strategy for 2023-2027 and the High-Level Declaration on MONEYVAL priorities were approved.
These documents outline the political and practical visions and role of MONEYVAL in AML/CFT/CPF activities for the next 5 years, within the framework of which the ministers of MONEYVAL member states and territories responsible for anti-money laundering policies have committed to improving the effectiveness of their regimes to prevent and combat money laundering, the financing of terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
The SFMS, as an authority responsible for cooperation with MONEYVAL, was directly involved in the development and processing of the draft Strategy and Declaration and made suggestions to their content.
In particular, in the Declaration (clause 3), ministers and high-level delegates of MONEYVAL member states and territories joined in strongly condemning the continued aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and confirmed their full support for Ukraine and its people.
The support of development of further proportionate legal response to the aggression was expressed. The grand corruption risks emanating from the top officials of the Russian regime and their organised crime links with Russian business elites was noted.
Ministers and high-level delegates of MONEYVAL member states and territories call on states to take any possible further actions as appropriate for the seizure and confiscation of assets of sanctioned individuals and entities and those identified as the proceeds of unlawful conduct.
The Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) view that the Russian Federation’s actions run counter to the FATF core principles aiming to promote security, safety, and the integrity of the global financial system and that they also represent a gross violation of the commitment to international cooperation and mutual respect which is required to implement and support the FATF Standards was supported.
The concerns of the FATF on the reports of arms trade between the Russian Federation and United Nations sanctioned jurisdictions, and malicious cyber-activities emanating from Russia was shared.
Ministers and high-level delegates of MONEYVAL member states and territories joined the FATF call upon jurisdictions to remain vigilant of threats to the integrity, safety and security of the international financial system arising from the Russian Federation’s war against Ukraine.
As Ihor Cherkaskyi, the Head of the State Financial Monitoring Service of Ukraine, noted: “The declaration is another strong political signal at the level of the Council of Europe regarding the Russian Federation’s violations of its obligations. At the same time, it is the first official document of the ministers and high-level delegates of MONEYVAL member states and territories, and its positions in the AML/CFT/CPF area will be taken into account in our work with our partners with the FATF regarding the identification of risks and threats posed by the Russian Federation”.
Ukraine, as a member of the MONEYVAL, will continue to actively participate in the implementation of the approved strategic documents.
The MONEYVAL Strategy for 2023-2027 and the High Level Declaration are published on the official MONEYVAL website at https://www.coe.int/en/web/moneyval/strategy-and-workplan.
_____________________________________