CECA supports Madrid’s bid to host the European Authority for the Fight against Money Laundering (AMLA)

Today, May 31, the presentation took place in Brussels for Madrid’s candidacy to host the headquarters of the European Authority for the Fight against Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (AMLA, Anti-Money Laundering Authority). This new institution, approved by the European Union as a central authority with supervisory, regulatory, and coordination competencies among the financial intelligence units of the member states, is in the process of being created.

The presentation of Madrid’s candidacy was carried out jointly by the City Council, the Community of Madrid, and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation, and included the participation of the General Secretary of the Treasury and International Financing, Carlos Cuerpo, as well as Juan Manuel López Zafra, Director General of Economy of the Community of Madrid, accompanied by the permanent representative ambassador of Spain to the EU, Marcos Alonso.

The presentation took place at the headquarters of the Permanent Representation of Spain to the European Union (REPER), before the main representatives of different interest groups, including Members of the European Parliament, members of the European Commission, and representatives from various member states, who will be responsible for evaluating the selection process for the headquarters, alongside representatives from various associations and private entities related to the sectors involved. Representatives from Spain’s three banking associations, AEB, CECA, and UNACC, the insurance employers’ association, UNESPA, as well as the College of Registrars of Property, Commercial Entities, and Personal Property of Spain and the General Council of Notaries, in addition to the Executive Service of the Commission for the Prevention of Money Laundering and Monetary Offences (SEPBLAC), were present at the event.

From CECA, we support Madrid’s candidacy as the headquarters of this new European agency, which will undoubtedly contribute to extending best practices in the field, in which Spain is a benchmark, to all jurisdictions of the EU. Our Corporate Director of Risk and Compliance, Raquel Cabeza, was the person who accompanied the Spanish delegation (in the photograph, Raquel Cabeza is fourth from the right).