Cinq thèmes de la lutte contre la criminalité financière

INSIGHT: Five Themes Defining Europe’s Fight Against Financial Crime in 2025

Introduction

In 2025, Europe is at the forefront of a transformative journey in combating financial crime. This article explores five pivotal themes shaping the future of anti-money laundering (AML) and financial crime prevention across the continent. From regulatory harmonization to the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), these themes highlight the evolving landscape of financial crime prevention.

1. AMLA: The Road to Harmonized Oversight

The establishment of the new EU Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) marks a significant step towards a unified regulatory framework. Enacted in April 2024, the AMLA is focused on building operational foundations to assume direct supervision by 2028. The European Banking Authority (EBA) currently supports the AMLA by drafting technical standards for a single EU AML rulebook. The involvement of industry experts, such as the Wolfsberg Group, is crucial in shaping these standards.

2. The Single EU AML Rulebook: Harmonization Challenges

Set to take effect in July 2027, the Single EU AML Rulebook aims to unify anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (CFT) directives across member states. However, achieving true harmonization requires more than policy alignment. Disparities in capability and approach among countries, such as Bulgaria and Croatia, highlight the need for enhanced capacity building and support to meet shared goals.

3. Article 75: Establishing New Parameters for Information Sharing

Information sharing is vital in combating money laundering and terrorist financing. Article 75 of the EU’s AML Regulation seeks to enhance cross-border collaboration and direct information-sharing agreements among banks. This initiative addresses limitations in current frameworks and aims to improve the efficacy of data analysis.

4. Payments: Changing Screening Mindsets

The traditional approach of screening every payment is becoming obsolete due to increasing transaction volumes and new payment systems. Institutions must adopt a risk-based approach to payment screening, utilizing advanced systems to apply tailored rules based on customer profiles and jurisdictional risks. This approach reduces false positives and enhances the customer experience.

5. AI in AML: Promises and Pitfalls

AI is revolutionizing AML practices, particularly in transaction monitoring and customer onboarding. However, challenges remain in areas like name screening due to linguistic complexities. The integration of AI requires careful cost-benefit analyses and international standards to ensure safe and consistent use. Additionally, the rise of generative AI presents new challenges, such as the creation of synthetic documents, necessitating a reevaluation of identity verification processes.

Conclusion: A New Era Calls for a Risk-Based Approach

As Europe enters a new era of financial crime prevention, a risk-based approach is essential. Regulatory harmonization, AI integration, and payment screening must move beyond one-size-fits-all models to effectively address growing complexities. Tailoring strategies to focus on high-risk areas is crucial for institutions to navigate this rapidly changing landscape.

Quelques pistes pour l'intégration opérationnelle dans votre dispositif :

- Évaluer et renforcer les capacités de votre équipe pour s'aligner sur les nouvelles normes AML.

- Mettre en place des systèmes de partage d'informations transfrontaliers pour améliorer la collaboration.

- Adopter une approche basée sur les risques pour le filtrage des paiements et l'intégration de l'IA.

- Effectuer des analyses coûts-bénéfices détaillées pour l'intégration de l'IA dans les processus AML.

- Revoir les processus de vérification d'identité pour faire face aux défis posés par les documents synthétiques.