Source: European Parliament
B10‑0311/2025
European Parliament resolution on the Commission delegated regulation of 10 June 2025 amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1675 to add Algeria, Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Laos, Lebanon, Monaco, Namibia, Nepal and Venezuela to the list of high-risk third countries which have provided a written high-level political commitment to address the identified deficiencies and have developed an action plan with the FATF, and to remove Barbados, Gibraltar, Jamaica, Panama, the Philippines, Senegal, Uganda and the United Arab Emirates from that list
(C(2025)3815) – 2025/2740(DEA))
The European Parliament,
– having regard to the Commission delegated regulation (C(2025)3815),
– having regard to Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
– having regard to Directive (EU) 2015/849 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2015 on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purpose of money laundering or terrorist financing, amending Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing Directive 2005/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Directive 2006/70/EC[1], and in particular Article 9(2) and Article 64(5) thereof,
– having regard to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1675 of 14 July 2016 supplementing Directive (EU) 2015/849 of the European Parliament and of the Council by identifying high-risk third countries with strategic deficiencies[2], in particular the Annex thereto,
– having regard to Rule 114(3) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the Commission presents the delegated regulation as an omnibus package to secure its passage, thereby including several countries and territories that deserve separate parliamentary scrutiny;
B. whereas the addition to the list of several jurisdictions with strategic deficiencies in their anti-money laundering / countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) regimes, including Algeria and the criminal Venezuelan narco-regime, should not be used as a strategy to put pressure on Parliament to accept deals with the colony of Gibraltar;
C. whereas Gibraltar is widely recognised as an offshore financial centre with a favourable tax regime and financial regulation that has raised concerns for its use for illicit financial activities that result in a severe distortion of the European Economic Area (EEA);
D. whereas transparency and international cooperation are critical to the integrity of the global financial system and to combating money laundering, tax evasion and terrorist financing;
E. whereas concerns persist about financial opacity and the facilitation of illicit financial activities in Gibraltar that are affecting the whole EEA, in particular surrounding municipalities;
F. whereas Articles 61 and 62 of Directive (EU) 2015/849 highlight the need to identify and assess the risks of money laundering and terrorist financing in different financial sectors and activities;
G. whereas Gibraltar is listed as a non-cooperative jurisdiction in some Member States;
1. Objects to the Commission delegated regulation;
2. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission and to notify it that the delegated regulation cannot enter into force;
3. Considers that the Commission delegated regulation:
(a) positively addresses the risks in the cases of Algeria, Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Laos, Lebanon, Monaco, Namibia, Nepal and Venezuela;
(b) does not properly take into account the threats to the international financial system in the case of Gibraltar, in accordance with the criteria set out in Directive (EU) 2015/849 and other relevant regulations;
(c) does not take into account the colony’s effective compliance with international standards against money laundering, tax evasion and terrorist financing, in accordance with the relevant provisions of Directive (EU) 2015/849;
(d) does not encourage Gibraltar’s current government to take the necessary measures to protect the integrity of the global financial system and to prevent illicit financial activities, in accordance with the principles and objectives set out in the current legislation;
(e) does not take into account the Spanish negotiating position for the long-term on the decolonisation procedure;
4. Calls on the Commission to submit a new delegated act as soon as possible which does not delete Gibraltar from the table in point I of the Annex to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1675;
5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and to the governments and parliaments of the Member States.