The stakeholders of the Technical Support Instrument (TSI) Project on “Enhancing the effectiveness of the anti-money laundering framework in Slovakia” gathered for their final Project Advisory Board (PAB) Meeting in Bratislava, on the 10th of November 2023. 

The meeting aimed to provide the PAB members with an overview of the Project’s implementation and results, discuss the project’s achievements and challenges, lessons learnt, as well as next steps and possible areas for future cooperation.

It was attended by representatives from the main national institutions involved throughout the Project, including the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Police Force Praesidium (FIU), the General Prosecutor’s Office, the National Crime Agency, the National Central Office of Special Crimes, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Finance, the National Bank of Slovakia, the Academy of Police Force as well as the Council of Europe’s Economic Crime and Cooperation Division and European Commission (DG-REFORM) representatives. 

Following a presentation by the Council of Europe of the Project’s implemented activities and results achieved since its launch in June 2021, all PAB members expressed high appreciation of the Project’s support to the improvement of the Slovak Republic’s anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) system. They highlighted its contributions to different parts of the national AML/CFT processes, and its holistic approach in this regard. Helpful feedback was provided on the project’s implementation and results, and several areas were highlighted for continued and future cooperation within this area. 

The Board emphasised that the Project helped engage or enhance important processes, such as national and sectoral risk assessments and legislative reforms, and build capacities in several areas, including financial investigations, asset recovery, the use of open source intelligence against money laundering and terrorism financing and other. At the same time, the Project’s implementation also brought to light certain gaps within the national AML/CFT framework and capacities, which would require further action, additional support and follow-up measures. 

Taking into account the adequacy of the technical assistance provided within the Project, the PAB members expressed hope for further support to Slovakia from the European Commission and the Council of Europe, in order to build on the results achieved and ensure continued and sustainable change in the medium and long term, recognising the durability of the partnerships established beyond this specific Project’s duration.  

This meeting was held in the framework of the joint TSI Project on “Enhancing the effectiveness of the AML Framework in Slovakia” funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe.