The procedure for the recognition of documents between Russia and Estonia has changed

On March 19, 2025, the agreement on legal assistance between Russia and Estonia officially ceased to be in effect. One of the key legal consequences of this event is the requirement to apostille documents for mutual recognition. The publication "Northern Coast" writes about the change in the legal situation.

The EU has appointed central authorities in charge of sanctions in each European country.

Regulation No 2024/2465 has been published in the Official Journal of the EU, which publishes Union regulations. This document includes a list of state bodies responsible for all sanctions-related issues in individual EU Member States. The relevant structures are vested with powers to manage, consult and issue the necessary permits.

The EU Anti-Money Laundering Office has opened and is looking for a head

On June 26, 2024, the regulation establishing the EU Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) officially came into force. Reuters reports this.

AMLA's two main objectives will be EU-wide anti-money laundering supervision and support to national financial intelligence units in European countries.

Frankfurt wins competition to host pan-European anti-money laundering agency

Frankfurt (Germany) has become the leader in the competition to locate the headquarters of the EU Anti-money laundering authority (AMLA).

Transparency International criticises European authorities for restricting journalists' access to beneficiary registers

Transparency International has criticised the authorities of a number of European Union member states for restricting journalists and non-profit activists from accessing registers of beneficial owners of businesses.

Labor plans to achieve radical tightening of financial controls in the UK

The now in opposition Labor Party has called on official London to tighten financial controls and registration procedures in the UK. The corresponding statement was made by Pat McFadden, the British shadow secretary of the Treasury.

Pandora's Archives, 6 AMLD and AMLA. Three main anti-money laundering events of the year

The Pandora Archive has drawn the attention of regulators to the financial and crypto industries. The crypto exchanges have been branded as accomplices of money laundering and have been accused of having trouble with unregulated forex brokers in the Caribbean.

Hong Kong will not adjust to the EU

The Hong Kong government has issued an official announcement in response to Hong Kong's inclusion in the EU's "gray" list.

Large European companies will publicly report their incomes

The EU Council has accepted a Directive on Public Country Reporting, which will oblige large multinational companies to disclose their income taxes to the public.

The sixth EU Anti-Money Laundering Directive (6AMLD) has been accepted

Following the 5th Directive, which significantly strengthened existing anti-money laundering provisions, the 6th Directive aims to enable financial institutions and authorities to further expand AML control by expanding the scope of existing legislation clarifying some regulatory details, and tightening up criminal sanctions in the EU.

Report published on Balkan countries fulfillment of their commitments under the Berlin Process 2018

The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) analyzed the level of implementation of anti-corruption commitments by Montenegro, Albania and several other countries as of 2021.

Seychelles, Dominica and Anguilla will be removed from the EU blacklist

On October 5, 2021, on a meeting of EU finance ministers, a decision will be made to exclude Seychelles, Dominica and Anguilla from the EU's "black" list of tax havens said Reuters.

In Montenegro, the data of foreigners who received "golden passports" were disclosed

The Montenegrin authorities have published publicly available data on foreigners who received Montenegrin passports for 2020-2021, including under the investment citizenship program.

European Commission launched an investigation into Cyprus and Malta for the sale of EU citizenship

The European Commission has filed lawsuits against the authorities of Cyprus and Malta for violation of the Commonwealth legislation due to the peculiarities of their programs of granting citizenship in exchange for investment - the so-called "golden passports".

Draft law on the registration of beneficial owners of trusts was published in the Netherlands

On April 26, the draft law was published in the Netherlands, which makes the registration of beneficial owners of trusts compulsory.

What is the Register of Beneficial Ownership and which countries have already implemented it?

The Register of Beneficial Ownership is a database which contains information about the ultimate beneficial owner of a company (a natural person) or a complex corporate structure.

Germany tightens border controls over COVID-19

German Chancellor Helge Braun warned that Germany is now experiencing "the most dangerous phase of the pandemic," and the third wave of the epidemic threatens to be worse than the second due to a more contagious mutation of the virus.

New EU rules cut red tape for citizens living or working in another Member State

As stated in their press release from the 15th of February, the European Union has published

Differences between the CE and the EAC Marking

The present article is meant to clarify the intent and purpose of the CE Marking and the EAC Marking.

Russia adopts “counter-sanctions” law

Today, on June 4, President Vladimir Putin signed the law that introduces the response to the sanctions imposed on Russia by the USA and other western countries.