AMLA launches: What the new EU anti-money laundering authority can do and what it is changing

The European Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) is a new, independent EU authority based in Frankfurt am Main. It was established in 2024 and began its work gradually in July 2025.

The aim of AMLA is to effectively combat money laundering and terrorist financing in the European Union.

Starting in 2028, AMLA will assume direct supervision of approximately 40 particularly high-risk credit and financial institutions in the EU. It conducts reviews and assessments and can request information. It also coordinates cooperation between national supervisory authorities and financial intelligence units (FIUs).

The AMLA develops regulatory and implementing technical standards, as well as guidelines and recommendations, to ensure a consistent anti-money laundering rulebook in the EU. It also supports national authorities in implementing the rules, promotes information exchange, and common standards. In the event of violations, the AMLA can impose sanctions in the form of fines and periodic penalty payments.

The Money Laundering Authority exercises direct and indirect supervision over high-risk financial institutions and can impose sanctions and measures for violations of money laundering regulations.

It also coordinates and monitors the work of national supervisory authorities and Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs). AMLA develops binding standards, guidelines, and recommendations for obligated entities and national authorities. It also organizes joint analyses and supports FIUs in operational investigations.

Bruna Szego has served as Chair of AMLA since January 2025. The authority's organizational structure also includes a Board of Directors, a Directorate, an Executive Director, and an Administrative Review Committee, which together ensure the strategic and operational management of AMLA.

The AMLA was created on the basis of a specific EU regulation, the AMLA Regulation, which is part of the comprehensive EU anti-money laundering package. This regulation entered into force on June 26, 2024.

As an independent institution of the European Union, AMLA has its own legal personality and is therefore capable of being a party to court proceedings.

Even after the AMLA is established, the national FIUs will remain responsible for receiving and analyzing suspicious transaction reports. The AMLA will not take over their responsibilities, but will coordinate, support, and set standards for cooperation and information exchange between the FIUs and the supervisory authorities.

National supervisory authorities also retain responsibility for all financial institutions not directly supervised by AMLA.