The
Financial Intelligence Unit of the Holy See (AIF) on Wednesday,
December 4, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with its German
counterpart, the "Zentralstelle für Verdachtsmeldungen at the
Bundeskriminalamt" (BKA).
The Memorandum was signed in the
Vatican by Cardinal Attilio Nicora, President of AIF, and by Dr. Michael
Dewald, director of Zentralstelle für Verdachtsmeldungen at the
Bundeskriminalamt (BKA).
A Vatican Comuniquè explains that a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is standard practice and formalizes
the cooperation and exchange of financial information to fight money
laundering and terrorist financing across borders between the competent
authorities of both countries.
It is based on the model
Memorandum of Understanding prepared by the Egmont Group, the global
organization of national Financial Intelligence Units, and contains
clauses on reciprocity, permitted uses of information and
confidentiality.
“This Memorandum is strengthening AIF’s
international reach and further integrates the Holy See and the Vatican
City State with a coordinated global effort to fight Money Laundering
and the Financing of Terrorism,” said AIF Director René Bruelhart.
“Today’s signing underlines our fruitful relationship and will further
facilitate our joint efforts.”
AIF became member of the
Egmont Group earlier in July this year and signed in the last months
MOUs with the Financial Intelligence Units of the United States,
Belgium, Italy, Spain, Slovenia and the Netherlands. More are expected
to be signed in the course of the coming months.
AIF is the
competent authority of the Holy See/Vatican City State to fight money
laundering and financing of terrorism. It was established in 2010.