The dominant development this week is the EU's 21st sanctions package against Russia, circulated by the CBA (Circular 15/2026) and ICPAC (CC 26/2026) — all obliged entities must update screening lists and review Russian-connected client files. AMLA published three items on its supervisory framework (cooperation standards, risk assessment taxonomy, and provisional entity identification), which are relevant preparation for when AMLA's direct supervision begins. FATF issued two statements on DeFi and virtual asset illicit finance risks, signalling continued regulatory focus on crypto.
All obliged entities must update their sanctions screening lists with the new designations immediately and re-screen any client files with Russian, Belarusian, or connected exposure.
The Commission's questions-and-answers document provides interpretive guidance on the new package; compliance officers should review it to understand scope changes, new sectoral measures, and any clarifications affecting existing client relationships.
FATF is flagging emerging risks from DeFi and evolving virtual asset threats — relevant for any obliged entity with crypto-exposed clients and indicative of future regulatory expectations for VASP-adjacent CDD.
AMLA has finalised standards for how national supervisors will cooperate in direct supervision of selected entities — obliged entities in sectors due for AMLA oversight (banks, CASPs, certain TCSPs) should monitor how this will affect their supervisory relationships.
Updated taxonomy for the 2027 AMLA risk assessment data collection signals what data national supervisors will require; worth noting for compliance teams preparing for upcoming reporting cycles.
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AMLA — EU Anti-Money Laundering Authority, CySEC — AML/CFT circulars, Cyprus Bar Association — AML announcements, EBA — European Banking Authority, ESMA — European Securities and Markets Authority, European Commission — Sanctions (press), FATF — publications & news, ICPAC — AML circulars & alerts, MOKAS — Cyprus FIU, National Betting Authority — AML directives.
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