On 17 – 19 October 2023, the Economic Crime and Cooperation Division of the Council of Europe organised the Strategic Analysis Training for 25 representatives of the Polish Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and other Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) competent authorities, such as the Polish Financial Supervision Authority, National Bank of Poland, Central Police Investigation Bureau, Border Guards, Internal Security Agency and Ministry of Justice.

The main objective of the training delivered by the Council of Europe experts was to strengthen the Polish FIU’s capacities to conduct strategic analysis as well as to raise awareness among representatives of other competent authorities on the need to support the FIU in conducting strategic analysis, and to raise awareness on the potential use of the FIU’s strategic analysis products for the implementation of tasks assigned to the specific competent authorities. The training combined presentations and exchanges through discussions with practical assignments. Participants expanded their knowledge about different stages of the strategic analysis process, and most importantly, they were actively engaged in practical group exercises which enabled the participants to work individually and in groups as well as to present the results of their group work to their peers.

An expert nominated by the Italian FIU brought an additional quality to the three-days training by sharing the experience on the approach and practices of the Italian FIU in planning and conducting the strategic analysis for the purposes of the AML/CFT. The participants engaged in fruitful discussions with the Italian FIU representative and had the opportunity to receive examples of sophisticated strategic analysis products in the form of handouts.

As a follow-up, the training materials were shared with the Polish FIU and other competent AML/CFT authorities, and the Council of Europe will continue supporting the authorities by providing tailored assistance and expert guidance throughout the process of further strengthening the Polish FIU’s capacities to conduct strategic analysis and to produce complex strategic analysis products.

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.