Summary of the FATF webinar on terrorist financing risks held on July 22, 2025
The webinar centered on the release and discussion of a comprehensive update on terrorist financing (TF) risks, marking the first significant review since 2015.
The session provided a detailed examination of the evolving landscape of terrorist financing, highlighting how the methods, channels, and risks have shifted over the past decade.
It aimed to inform a broad audience, including policymakers, law enforcement officials, private sector representatives, academics, and civil society actors,
about current trends and emerging threats in order to strengthen collective efforts against terrorist financing.
The EU Sanctions Helpdesk supports European operators in complying with restrictive measures
The EU Sanctions Helpdesk, launched in 2025, is a new and valuable resource for businesses needing guidance on sanctions compliance and due diligence.
Set up on behalf of the European Commission and funded by the Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI), the Helpdesk is part of the wider project “Support to EU SMEs on EU Sanctions Due Diligence.”
Its primary goal is to help companies – especially small and medium-sized enterprises – navigate the complex landscape of both UN and EU restrictive measures,
ensuring they meet legal obligations and avoid costly compliance errors.
FATF Report highlights major gaps in global response to Proliferation Financing and Sanctions Evasion
A new FATF report released on 20 June 2025 reveals significant weaknesses in the global financial system’s ability to counter the financing of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
Despite the serious threat, only 16% of countries evaluated have shown strong effectiveness in implementing targeted financial sanctions under UN Security Council resolutions.
The report highlights that both public and private sectors need to urgently improve their technical compliance and enforcement efforts, as current gaps allow proliferators to exploit the system.
Understanding the term ‘Terrorism’: A complex history and varied meanings
The word “terrorism” is everywhere in the news today, but have you ever stopped to think about where this term comes from and what it really means?
Who benefits from AI in Money Laundering in Europe: The Organised Criminals or the AML Services?
The rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping many areas of our lives, not least the complex and critical field of financial security. A recent study explores how AI is changing the fight against money laundering across Europe. The research provides compelling evidence on whether AI primarily supports anti-money laundering (AML) efforts or if it inadvertently aids organised criminals by empowering their schemes.
The study examines data from 2017 to 2023 across 19 European countries, using a combination of AI adoption metrics, governance quality indicators, and economic variables. Its findings reveal a nuanced picture: while AI adoption generally improves AML performance, too much reliance on AI can introduce new vulnerabilities that criminals may exploit. This dynamic creates a technological tug-of-war where both sides leverage AI for their purposes, making the battle for financial integrity increasingly complex.
