Monaco placed the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing at the centre of its Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe this week, hosting an informal ministerial conference in Strasbourg attended by representatives from all 46 member states…
The event brought together justice ministers, prosecutors, financial intelligence experts and international organisations to discuss the growing challenges posed by increasingly sophisticated financial crime networks. Participants stressed that money laundering remains a major threat to economies, democratic institutions and international security, requiring stronger cooperation across borders.
Speaking during the conference, Secretary of State for Justice Samuel Vuelta Simon highlighted Monaco’s ongoing commitment to meeting the highest international standards in financial transparency and compliance. He noted that the Principality has undertaken significant reforms in recent years and continues to work closely with international partners to strengthen the effectiveness of its anti-money laundering framework.
Discussions also focused on the impact of digitalisation, which has accelerated the movement of funds around the world and created new opportunities for criminal organisations to conceal illicit assets. Delegates agreed that legal and investigative tools must evolve at the same pace as technology.
The conference followed the recent adoption of an additional protocol to the Council of Europe’s Warsaw Convention, one of Europe’s key legal instruments for combating money laundering and terrorist financing. The new protocol will open for signature in October and is expected to further enhance international cooperation.
A joint declaration was adopted at the conclusion of the meeting, reaffirming the commitment of member states to strengthen collective action against emerging forms of financial crime.
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