ESAs announce multilateral agreement on the exchange of information between the ECB and AML CFT competent authorities

  • News
  • 15 January 2019

The European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) approved on 10 January 2019 the content of the Multilateral Agreement on the practical modalities for exchange of information between the European Central Bank (ECB) and all competent authorities (CAs) responsible for supervising compliance of credit and financial institutions with anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) obligations under the fourth Anti-Money Laundering Directive (AMLD4). The Agreement will create a clear framework for exchanging information between the ECB and CAs and potentially will enhance the effectiveness of their supervisory practices.

AMLD4 was amended by the AMLD5 in June 2018. These amendments also included a new Article 57a(2), which requires the ESAs to support the conclusion of an agreement on the practical modalities for exchange of information between the ECB and CAs.

This amendment is part of the EU legislator's wider efforts to enhance the cooperation and information exchange between prudential and AML/CFT supervisors through a clear legal mandate. To fulfil this mandate, the ESAs, together with the ECB and CAs, have developed this Multilateral Agreement, which contains provisions on the type of information and underlying process for exchanging it; confidentiality and data protection provisions; situations where the request for information can be refused; means of communicaiton and language used in the information exchange; the signing process; and the settlement of disputes procedures.

The Agreement was sent to the ECB and the CAs for signature.

Link to ESAs' Joint Committee

Documents

Multilateral Agreement on the practical modalities for exchange of information on AML/CFT between the ECB and CAs

(391.85 KB - PDF) Last update 29 January 2019

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