The Council of Europe has published a declaration presented at a conference of justice ministers from its 46 member states under the Monegasque Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, reaffirming a stronger response to money laundering and terrorist financing. The declaration calls for offences to be investigated and prosecuted more effectively and for criminal sanctions to be applied in a way that strengthens the criminal justice response while remaining consistent with the European Convention on Human Rights. The measures focus on stronger institutional capacity and better coordination. Ministers highlighted the need for closer cooperation among authorities, more training and specialisation for prosecutors, judges, investigators and supervisory and regulatory authorities, and adequate resources to handle cases quickly. The text also recommends national strategies involving both public authorities and private-sector entities subject to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing obligations. On asset recovery, it emphasizes the role of financial intelligence units, calls for better quality and operational use of suspicious transaction reports, and encourages stronger financial and asset investigation capabilities, including technology to trace complex flows and crypto-assets. States are urged to improve their ability to identify, freeze, seize, confiscate and recover criminal proceeds, including digital assets, and to manage seized property effectively to preserve value. The declaration also stresses the need for stronger international judicial cooperation, including early information exchange, mutual legal assistance, joint investigation teams, coordinated cross-border operations, seizures and asset sharing. It further calls on states to adapt their legal and institutional frameworks to financial crime risks linked to digital technologies, artificial intelligence, decentralised platforms and transaction anonymisation mechanisms, and to implement Council of Europe conventions and protocols on criminal cooperation, money laundering, confiscation, corruption and cybercrime more effectively while encouraging wider accession.
Council of Europe2026-06-16
Council of Europe justice ministers back declaration to strengthen money laundering prosecutions and recovery of criminal assets
The Council of Europe published a declaration from justice ministers of its 46 member states calling for stronger criminal justice action against money laundering and terrorist financing. It pushes for more effective investigations, prosecutions and sanctions, alongside better asset tracing, seizure and confiscation, including for crypto-assets. The declaration also stresses stronger cross-border judicial cooperation and legal updates to address digital and technology-driven financial crime.