On 12 November 2018, approximately 6 months after the adoption of the 5th EU Anti-Money Laundering Directive (5AMLD), the European Parliament published further rules to strengthen the fight against money laundering through the 6th EU Money Laundering Directive (6AMLD).
EU Member States are required to transpose 6AMLD into national law by 3 December 2020. After which, relevant regulation must be implemented by firms within EU Member States by 3 June 2021.
The following sections provide a comprehensive overview of all key changes compliance officers should be aware of.
What can we expect?
There are a number of proposed amendments which regulated firms operating in the European Union (EU) should be aware of. We outline six of the key amendments to look out for below:
Unified list of predicate offences
- The 6AMLD lists 22 specific predicate offences for money laundering which all EU Member States must criminalise. Some of the more interesting offences include environmental offences, cybercrime, and direct and indirect tax offences.
- EU Member States and regulated firms will need to develop an in-depth understanding of the predicate offences, the relevant risk factors and typologies involved as a first step to implementing the new provisions.
Additional money laundering offences: Aiding and abetting, attempting and inciting
- The Directive broadens the scope of money laundering offences to include aiding, abetting and attempting to commit an offence of money laundering as a criminal offence.
Extension of criminal liability to legal persons
- One of the more significant amendments under the Directive is the extension of criminal liability to legal persons (e.g. companies or incorporated partnerships) as well as individuals in certain positions (representatives, decision-makers or those with authority to exercise control) who commit offences for the benefit of their organisation, including where the offence was made possible by the lack of supervision or control of the individual.
Increased international co-operation for prosecution of money laundering
- Where two Member States each have jurisdiction over the prosecution of an offence, they are required to collaborate and agree to prosecute in a single Member State.
- There are also other measures for a “more efficient and swifter cross-border cooperation between competent authorities”, as well as requirements for Member States to have “effective investigative tools”.
Tougher punishments
- The Directive increases the minimum prison sentence for money laundering offences for individuals from one year to four years, alongside a variety of other “dissuasive” sanctions.
- It also includes punishments for legal persons, including exclusion from public benefits or aid; a temporary or even permanent ban from doing business; compulsory winding-up; and a temporary or permanent closure of establishments used to commit the offence.
Requirement for dual criminality for specified offences
- The Directive requires Member States to criminalise money laundering arising from six specified predicate offences, even if the conduct constituting those predicate offence was lawful in the jurisdiction in which it was committed.
- The six specified offences are: participation in an organised criminal group and racketeering; terrorism; trafficking in human beings and migrant smuggling; sexual exploitation (including of children); illicit trafficking in narcotics and psychotropic substances; and corruption.
What happens next and what about Brexit?
The UK is currently expected to withdraw from the EU on 29 March 2019, so before the deadline of 3 December 2020 for EU Member States to transpose the 6AMLD into national law. If the UK ratifies the EU-UK Withdrawal agreement, then the UK will enter a transitional period for Brexit which would last beyond the date of implementation. In this case the UK would likely be bound to implement the requirements of the Directive. Even if not bound to do so in a no-deal scenario, it may choose to adopt the Directive to ensure alignment with the block. The recent stream of anti-money laundering Directives suggests the EU’s appetite for rules to protect the integrity of the financial system and fighting against money laundering is larger than ever.
Please get in touch for more information and guidance on how Vigilo can help you and your company in this regard.