The Council of Europe's Economic Crime and Cooperation Division (ECCD) is supporting the Polish Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) by working together to further strengthen the FIU’s strategic analysis function, aiming to enhance the effectiveness of the anti-money laundering/combatting the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) regime in Poland. 

In this regard, in August 2023, the ECCD undertook an analysis of the FIU’s performance of strategic analysis function, in order to identify potential deficiencies in the existing procedures and practices and to provide recommendations and propose possible solutions for further strengthening the FIU’s capacities in this regard.

The detailed review of the current Polish institutional and legal framework related to the performance of the FIU's strategic analysis function, FIU’s internal procedures, as well as the strategic analysis products recently developed by the FIU, enabled the Council of Europe experts to provide the authorities with several recommendations for further enhancing the legal framework and practical organisational arrangements for conducting strategic analysis, aiming to further align it with the international standards and good practices.

In order to present and further discuss the review and provided recommendations, the ECCD has organised an online workshop on 20 October 2023. The event gathered representatives of the Polish FIU, as well as the Council of Europe experts. Participants used this opportunity to provide some additional information, clarifications and updates regarding most recent legislative and procedural developments, as well as regarding the finalisation of the second ML/TF National Risk Assessment of Poland. Moreover, the event allowed the authorities to engage in fruitful discussions with the Council of Europe experts and to jointly reflect on the steps to be taken in order to further strengthen the performance of strategic analysis function of the Polish FIU.

The event was organised within the framework of the Technical Support Instrument (TSI) initiative 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.