Industry Calls for Risk-Based Rules, Improved Data Access and More Effective Coordination to Deliver on EU Anti-Money Laundering Ambitions

Brussels, 26 June 2025 — As the EU establishes its Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) and accelerates work on the implementation of the new EU AML/CFT package, the Data & Technology for Compliance (DT4C) Alliance and the Federation of Business Information Services (FEBIS) convened policymakers, regulators, and private sector leaders at the European Parliament to address one critical question: how can the EU turn legislation into lasting impact in the fight against financial crime?

The event, hosted by MEP Isabel Benjumea (EPP, ES), marked a timely opportunity to reflect on the operational challenges ahead and issue a collective call for an effective, harmonised AML framework grounded in trust, transparency, and coordination between EU actors and Member States.

"The EU's AML/CFT package and the creation of AMLA mark a qualitative leap forward in strengthening Europe’s financial framework and security. But to make it truly effective, we must ensure strong cooperation amongst member states to build the joint capacity to respond to evolving risks." – MEP Isabel Benjumea

Participants agreed that AMLA has the potential to be a transformative institution - if supported by consistent implementation across Member States, improved access to high-quality beneficial ownership (BO) data, and stronger cooperation between public and private actors. The upcoming secondary legislation, especially on data sharing and supervision scope, will be instrumental in realising these goals.

Key themes throughout the panels included the need for clear and consistent definitions of legitimate interest, streamlined BO register access, and a pragmatic, risk-based approach to supervision. Stakeholders emphasised that interoperability - both legal and technical - must be at the heart of the EU’s AML strategy. Without it, the fragmentation that has limited other regulatory efforts risks being repeated.

There was broad alignment around the value of public-private partnerships, sustainable investment in registry infrastructure, and the adoption of digital tools such as APIs and the Beneficial Ownership Register Interconnection System (BORIS) system to enable secure and efficient data exchange. Speakers also highlighted the importance of aligning national practices to reduce compliance burdens and improve enforcement outcomes.

DT4C and FEBIS welcome the momentum behind AML reform and remain available to collaborate with EU institutions and national authorities in building a future-ready, data-driven AML framework that delivers on Europe’s financial security and transparency objectives.