EGMONT

Recognizing the importance of international cooperation in the fight against money laundering and financing of terrorism, a group of Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) met at the Egmont Arnsberg Palace in Brussels, Belgium, and decided to establish an informal network of FIUs for the stimulation of international co-operation. Now known as the Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units, where Afghanistan (FinTRACA) has became an Egmont Group member since 2010.

Egmont Group of FIUs meets regularly to find ways to promote the development of FIUs and to cooperate, especially in the areas of information exchange, training and the sharing of expertise.

The Egmont Group has evolved over the years and is currently comprised of more than 151 member FIUs. The 2012 FATF Recommendations expect that FIUs apply for membership with the Egmont Group; therefore, the Egmont network of FIUs is expected to grow even further in the coming years.

The goal of the Egmont Group is to provide a forum for FIUs around the world to improve cooperation in the fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism and to foster the implementation of domestic programs in this field. This support includes:

• Expanding and systematizing International Cooperation in the reciprocal exchange of information;
• Increasing the effectiveness of FIUs by offering training and promoting personnel exchanges to improve the expertise and capabilities of personnel employed by FIUs;
• Fostering better and secure communication among FIUs through the application of technology, such as the Egmont Secure Web (ESW);
• Fostering increased coordination and support among the operational divisions of member FIUs;
• Promoting the operational autonomy of FIUs; and
• Promoting the establishment of FIUs in conjunction with the jurisdictions with an AML/CFT program in place, or in areas with a program in the early stages of development.

For more details please visit Egmont Group of FIUs at: www.egmontgroup.org