One of the EU-Commission prepared a list of countries in the fight against money laundering might fail. Almost all member States oppose it, apparently. Before the king of Saudi Arabia and the US had protested-government.
The EU countries are obviously not opposed to the EU-Commission’s proposal for a “Black list” to the fight against money laundering and financing of Terrorism. 27 of the 28 EU governments agreed in a vote against the list, reports the AFP news Agency. Only Belgium did not vote against it. A crisis meeting after the vote, did not approach.
in mid-February had presented to the Commission their list of 23 States and territories, which, from their point of view a “high risk” for money laundering and the financing of terrorism. Controversial is the inclusion of Saudi Arabia and the four U.S. territories of Samoa, American young, is especially remote Islands, Puerto Rico, and Guam.
concern for legal certainty,
representatives of member States criticized in principle, the procedure of the Commission. “It comes to the criteria on the basis of the list has been created, and the application of the criteria,” said an EU Diplomat of the AFP. Because the inclusion of countries would have to ultimately “hold up in court”. This he doubt.
The Commission rejected these allegations. The authority had created the methodology for the creation of the list “in close cooperation” with the EU member States, said a spokeswoman. Also on the list of specified third countries had been consulted.
A Royal letter
king Salman protested personally against the list. (Archive)
According to information from the AFP protested in Riyadh and Washington is solid against the list. Saudi Arabia’s king Salman is expected to have in a personal letter to the EU heads of state and heads of government turned. This is a letter to the AFP. He referred to the inclusion of his country as a “surprising and unexpected”. Because they do not reflect the efforts of his country in the fight against money laundering and financing of Terrorism.
The United States welcomed the rejection of the list. It was “encouraging” that “common sense” about the “dogmatic Occur, the Commission” have won the day, said the US Ambassador to the EU, Gordon Sondland. He confirmed that the US had massively protested against the inclusion of the four U.S. territories.
