The Council of Europe Economic Crime and Cooperation Division (ECCD) is supporting Polish authorities with a review and recommendations for further improvement of current procedures and framework for regular and per need exchange of Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) information between the Polish Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and other competent authorities, including law enforcement agencies (LEAs). 

The review, launched in February 2023, consisted of the desk research of publicly available information, such as the 5th Round MONEYVAL Mutual Evaluation Report of Poland (2021), the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (ML/TF) National Risk Assessment of Poland (2019) and annual reports of the General Inspector of Financial Information, complemented by analysis of additional information provided by the Polish authorities in written exchanges as well as during several meetings with the FIU representatives, aiming to provide tailor-made guidance and support to the Polish competent authorities.

In order to present and further discuss the results and recommendations of the conducted review, the ECCD has organised an in-person workshop on 16 October 2023, in Warsaw, Poland. The event gathered 25 representatives of Polish FIU, Polish Financial Supervision Authority, National Bank of Poland, Central Police Investigation Bureau, Border Guards, Internal Security Agency and Ministry of Justice.

Participants used this opportunity to engage in fruitful discussions with the Council of Europe expert and jointly reflect on the steps to be taken in order to further strengthen the existing information exchange framework in Poland. For instance, the Polish authorities were encouraged to further enhance the feedback provided to the FIU by other competent authorities as well as to further emphasise the role of the Financial Security Committee in this regard.

The activity was organised within the framework of the Technical Support Instrument (TSI) project on “Strengthening the risk assessment mechanisms and the AML-CFT strategic analysis function of the Polish financial intelligence unit”, funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, and implemented by the Council of Europe.