On 9 June 2026, Financial Services Commissioner Maria Luís Albuquerque delivered a keynote speech at AMLA's inaugural conference in Frankfurt, setting out the authority's central role in implementing the EU's 2024 anti-money laundering package. She stressed that AMLA must promote risk-based supervision, harness technology and data, and strengthen Europe's voice in the global fight against financial crime.
Albuquerque noted that the 2024 AML package was a milestone but warned that legislation alone is insufficient; effective implementation is key. She highlighted that the AML Regulation will become directly applicable on 10 July 2027, and that AMLA will start directly supervising a select set of entities in 2028. The Commissioner called for a collective effort from all stakeholders to achieve a coherent, predictable and flexible legal framework through secondary legislation and guidelines.
promoting smarter, simpler and more risk-based regulation and supervision; supporting the use of technology and data; and strengthening Europe's role internationally. Albuquerque argued that complexity does not equal effectiveness and that a simpler framework can be more effective. She urged supervisors to focus resources where risks are greatest and to use AMLA's work to build a shared European line of defence.
On technology, she emphasised that AMLA can lead a data-driven transformation by developing common tools, data standards and secure information exchange between public and private actors. She noted that FIU.net, currently managed by the Commission, will be transferred to AMLA in July 2027 and should see continuous improvements.
Albuquerque also stressed the need for global cooperation, noting that the international environment is becoming more fragmented. AMLA can project Europe's voice by leading through example and building partnerships with like-minded jurisdictions and candidate countries.
AMLA will develop regulatory technical standards and guidelines, support data-sharing under existing legal bases, and take up a leading role in international workstreams. However, many details on implementation timelines and specific tools remain to be defined.
The speech shifts the EU's AML approach towards simplification, proportionality and risk-based supervision, moving away from overly detailed rules. It advocates for greater EU-level coordination and stronger use of technology, while maintaining high standards. In foreign policy terms, it calls for a more assertive EU role in global AML standard-setting.
Financial institutions operating across multiple Member States will benefit from more consistent rule interpretation, reducing compliance costs and uncertainty. National supervisors will need to align their practices with AMLA's guidance, potentially losing some autonomy but gaining access to shared data and tools. The non-financial sector, newly subject to AML rules, faces adaptation costs but will receive clearer, sector-appropriate rules. Criminals and money launderers will face a more coordinated and technologically advanced enforcement system, increasing detection risks.
The push for simplification and proportionality may reduce the administrative burden on compliant businesses but could also create gaps if risk assessments are not rigorous. Greater data sharing and use of AI enhance detection but raise privacy and data protection concerns. Stronger EU-level coordination improves consistency but may limit national flexibility in addressing local risks.