Geldwäscherichtlinie

The Geldwäscherichtlinie, or Money Laundering Directive, refers to a series of legislative acts enacted by the European Union aimed at combating money laundering and terrorist financing. These directives establish a common framework for member states to implement robust anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) measures. The core objective is to prevent criminals from disguising the proceeds of illegal activities as legitimate funds, thereby hindering organized crime and terrorism.

Key aspects of the Geldwäscherichtlinie typically include customer due diligence (CDD) requirements, which mandate financial institutions and other designated entities to verify the identity of their customers and assess the risks associated with their business relationships. This often involves collecting information about the beneficial owner of an account or transaction. The directives also impose obligations for suspicious transaction reporting, requiring entities to report any transactions that raise suspicions of money laundering or terrorist financing to the relevant national authorities.

Furthermore, the directives address issues such as record-keeping, training of staff, and the establishment of internal controls and procedures to mitigate AML/CTF risks. They also aim to facilitate cooperation and information exchange between national authorities within the EU and with international partners. Over time, the directives have been updated and strengthened to address evolving threats and typologies of money laundering and terrorist financing, reflecting the dynamic nature of these criminal activities.