The European Commission has designated Russia as a high-risk third country with strategic deficiencies in its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CFT) framework, adding it to the EU’s list of high-risk jurisdictions. The designation means EU entities covered by the EU AML framework must apply enhanced vigilance to transactions involving Russia. The listing follows a technical assessment carried out under Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/1393, which required the Commission to review third countries whose Financial Action Task Force (FATF) membership is suspended, and consider whether the EU AML list should be amended. The assessment used established methodologies and drew on public sources as well as inputs from Member States’ competent authorities and the European External Action Service, concluding that Russia meets the criteria for high-risk designation under the Fourth Anti-money Laundering Directive. The delegated regulation will enter into force after scrutiny and non-objection by the European Parliament and the Council within one month, extendable by a further month. The Commission will monitor progress in all listed countries and follow relevant developments.
European Commission 2025-12-03
European Commission adds Russia to the EU list of high-risk AML and CFT jurisdictions
The European Commission has designated Russia as a high-risk third country due to deficiencies in its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing framework, adding it to the EU’s high-risk jurisdictions list. This requires EU entities to apply enhanced vigilance to transactions involving Russia. The designation follows a technical assessment under Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/1393, considering Russia's suspended Financial Action Task Force membership and inputs from Member States and the European External Action Service.