MEP Alvise Pérez (NI) has submitted a written parliamentary question to the European Commission asking whether the EU's anti-money laundering framework ensures that credit institutions document the origin of funds used for significant mortgage repayments by politically exposed persons (PEPs), following a Spanish investigation into former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.
The question, filed on 27 May 2026, cites Directive (EU) 2015/849 and Regulation (EU) 2024/1624, which require enhanced due diligence for PEPs, including identification of the source of assets and funds. Pérez points to a Spanish probe into the possible illicit origin of funds linked to Zapatero and his inner circle, involving early repayment of a nearly EUR 500,000 mortgage from a joint account.
Concrete asks and policy direction
first, whether the current framework ensures that banks document the origin of funds for significant mortgage repayments by PEPs or their associates; second, whether the Commission, together with the European Banking Authority and national financial intelligence units, is assessing the proper functioning of suspicious transaction reports for domestic PEPs; and third, what role the Commission assigns to the future Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) in supervising higher-risk credit institutions in similar cases.
The question signals a push for stricter enforcement of existing rules, particularly for domestic PEPs, and for clearer supervisory responsibilities under the upcoming AMLA. It implies that current controls may be insufficient for high-value transactions by former officeholders.
Expected follow-up
The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. Its answer will indicate whether it considers the existing framework adequate or whether further guidance or legislative action is needed, and how it envisions AMLA's role in overseeing PEP-related transactions. The response may also clarify the interaction between EU rules and national investigations.
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