NEWS: FATF President calls shell companies the ‘getaway car’ for financial crime

Regulatory Watch News

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  FATF Holds Plenary in Mexico, Advances Key Illicit Finance Initiatives

  US Department of the Treasury

  February 20, 2026

  MEXICO—Last week, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global standard-setting body for anti-money laundering, countering the financing of terrorism, and countering proliferation financing (AML/CFT/CPF), concluded its fifth Plenary under the Mexican presidency.  The FATF agreed to publish two reports on digital assets, imposed additional countermeasures on Iran, and adopted Mutual Evaluation Reports for Austria, Italy, and Singapore. The FATF reiterated the terrorist and proliferation financing risks emanating from Iran, which remains on the FATF’s blacklist.  The FATF reminded all nations to implement reimposed United Nations Security Council Resolutions related to Iran’s ongoing lack of compliance with its nuclear agreements.  The FATF also called upon all jurisdictions to impose additional countermeasures to restrict correspondent banking, digital asset transactions, and business relationships with Iran given its severe illicit finance risks.

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  Fact Check: Europol’s support to Ukraine and entries into the Schengen Information System

  Europol

  February 20, 2026

  Europol is committed to ensuring that information about our mission and activities is accurate. As a public EU Agency, we operate within a clearly defined framework, and are subject to strong oversight. We are committed to maintaining the transparency, enabling the scrutiny of our work and holding us accountable. As such, we consider it our duty to support the media, as we respect and strongly believe in their role in shedding light on issues that are essential for the knowledge of citizens. We strive to facilitate their work by providing transparent, factual and verified, as well as timely information.

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  Slovenia: Two indicted for fraud involving farm modernisation funds

  European Public Prosecutor's Office

  February 20, 2026

  (Luxembourg, 20 February 2026) – The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Ljubljana (Slovenia) has filed an indictment in the District Court in Ptuj against two individuals, accused of forging public documents to fraudulently obtain EU agricultural funds, aimed at supporting farm modernisation.    At issue are funds to build a new barn and to purchase equipment, co-financed up to 75% by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), under the measure "Support for Investment in Agricultural Holdings".