Vatican and Germany sign cooperation document in fight against money laundering
(Vatican Radio) The Financial Intelligence Unit of the Holy See (AIF) on Wednesday,
December 4, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with its German counterpart, the
"Zentralstelle für Verdachtsmeldungen at the Bundeskriminalamt" (BKA).
The
Memorandum was signed in the Vatican by Cardinal Attilio Nicora, President of AIF,
and by Dr. Michael Dewald, director of Zentralstelle für Verdachtsmeldungen at the
Bundeskriminalamt (BKA).
A Vatican Comuniquè explains that a Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU) is standard practice and formalizes the cooperation and exchange
of financial information to fight money laundering and terrorist financing across
borders between the competent authorities of both countries.
It is based
on the model Memorandum of Understanding prepared by the Egmont Group, the global
organization of national Financial Intelligence Units, and contains clauses on reciprocity,
permitted uses of information and confidentiality.
“This Memorandum is
strengthening AIF’s international reach and further integrates the Holy See and the
Vatican City State with a coordinated global effort to fight Money Laundering and
the Financing of Terrorism,” said AIF Director René Bruelhart. “Today’s signing underlines
our fruitful relationship and will further facilitate our joint efforts.”
AIF
became member of the Egmont Group earlier in July this year and signed in the last
months MOUs with the Financial Intelligence Units of the United States, Belgium, Italy,
Spain, Slovenia and the Netherlands. More are expected to be signed in the course
of the coming months.
AIF is the competent authority of the Holy See/Vatican
City State to fight money laundering and financing of terrorism. It was established
in 2010.