This week at the AMLP Forum – 19th Annual European Financial Crime Conference, Elżbieta Franków-Jaśkiewicz, Chair of the Egmont Group, delivered a series of interventions spotlighting the evolving role of Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) in the fight against illicit financial flows including a thoughtful panel discussion moderated by Philippe de Koster, Head of FIU Belgium.
The event also provided an excellent opportunity for the Egmont Chair to connect with Elisa de Anda Madrazo, Current FATF President, T Raja Kumar, Past FATF President, and Bruna Szego, AMLA President, further strengthening ties across the global financial crime-fighting community.
Key highlights from the Chair’s interventions:
– Egmont Group now connects 182 FIUs worldwide, marking 30 years of global cooperation to protect economies and societies from financial crime through rapid, secure intelligence exchanges.
– Collaboration with organizations like Financial Action Task Force (FATF), INTERPOL, UNODC, and regional bodies is helping to strengthen intelligence sharing and coordinated responses to transnational threats. The Egmont Group’s joint initiatives and practical guidance are shaping the future of cross-border cooperation.
– Advanced analytics, AI, and secure digital platforms are transforming how FIUs detect suspicious patterns, share intelligence, and recover assets. However, technology alone isn’t enough; it is the trust, commitment, and expertise of professionals that drive progress.
– Persistent obstacles remain, including fragmented data, legal barriers, funding constraints, and increasingly sophisticated bad actors. The Chair urged all stakeholders to advocate for more resources, operational independence, and investment in IT tools and training for FIUs.
As we look to the future, it is imperative to strengthen partnerships, invest in innovation, and foster a culture of integrity and collaboration. United in purpose, we can build a more resilient and transparent financial system, ensuring there are no safe havens for illicit finance.
Our sincere appreciation to Adriana Juric, AMLP Forum Chair, and to the organizers for their exemplary efforts in hosting this important event.
