Il-Ministru għall-Finanzi u s-Servizzi Finanzjarji Edward Scicluna, flimkien mal-Ministri tal-Finanzi tal-Unjoni Ewropea, ipparteċipa f’vidjokonferenza, fid-19 ta’ Mejju 2020, sabiex tiġi diskussa l-komunikazzjoni dwar il-ħasil tal-flus u l-iffinanzjar tat-terroriżmu (AML/CFT), li l-Kummissjoni Ewropea ħarġet u t-twaqqif tal-Fond ta’ Rkupru.

STQARRIJA MILL-MINISTERU GĦALL-FINANZI U S-SERVIZZI FINANZJARJI

“Malta hija favur li jkun hemm iktar ċarezza u armonizzazzjoni fuq l-applikazzjoni tar-rekwiżiti tal-AML/CFT fost l-istati membri kollha tal-Unjoni Ewropea, permezz ta’ ħolqien ta’ awtorità jew aġenzija, li tista’ tkun parti mill-mekkaniżmu biex jinħoloq iktar koordinazzjoni u kooperazzjoni bejn l-istituzzjonijiet responsabbli mis-sorveljanza u s-superviżjoni tal-AML/CFT fl-istati membri”, qal il-Ministru Scicluna.

Aġenzija bħal din għandha tara li jkun hemm l-involviment u t-tisħiħ ta’ dawn l-istituzzjonijiet nazzjonali, peress li dawn ikollhom interazzjoni regolari ma’ entitajiet obbligatorji u li jkollhom setgħat ta’ infurzar u sanzjonijiet fuqhom. Biex jinkiseb dan, hemm bżonn ta’ analiżi li tevalwa x’inhuma dawk l-ostakoli li jtellfu milli jkun hemm bdil ta’ informazzjoni u li jkun hemm azzjoni konġunta, u jekk hemm bżonn tidħol il-leġiżlazzjoni neċessarja ħalli l-infurzar ikun aktar effettiv.

Malta taqbel ukoll mal-Kummissjoni li jkun hemm sinerġiji sinifikanti mal-proċess ta’ FATF (de)lisiting, waqt li żżomm il-flessibilità tal-Unjoni Ewropea li taġixxi b’mod indipendenti f’dawk iċ-ċirkostanzi, li jirrikjedu azzjoni differenti biex tipproteġi lill-istess Unjoni Ewropea.

Matul il-laqgħa, il-Ministri tal-Finanzi ddiskutew il-progress li sar fuq l-inċentivi li se jidħlu biex itaffu l-effetti tal-kriżi COVID-19 fuq livell Ewropew, miżuri li jinkludu, fost l-oħrajn, il-Pan-European Guarantee Fund tal-Bank Ewropew għall-Iżvilupp.

Il-Ministru Scicluna qal, “Malta tilqa’ l-progress miksub sa issa fir-rigward tal-erba’ strumenti finanzjarji tal-Unjoni Ewropea. Aħna nappoġġaw il-Pan-European Guarantee Fund tal-Bank Ewropew għall-Iżvilupp, li jista’ jgħin finanzjament lill-kumpaniji li qed jiltaqgħu ma’ problemi minħabba l-kriżi tal-COVID-19, b’enfasi fuq SMEs, il-programm SURE għall-protezzjoni tal-impjiegi, il-linji ta’ kreditu tal-ESM u l-istrument komuni ta’ rkupru fuq livell ta’ Unjoni Ewropea.

“Fejn jidħol il-pjan ta’ rkupru, Malta tħoss li għandu jkun trattat b’mod ħolistiku u għalhekk għandu jkun hemm qbil malajr kemm fuq il-Qafas Finanzjarju Multiannwali kif ukoll fuq il-Fond ta’ Rkupru. Malta hi miftuħa għal diskussjonijiet u lesta li tfittex kompromess għall-benefiċċju tal-isfidi formidabbli li se taffaċċja l-Unjoni Ewropea fix-xhur li ġejjin.”

Malta welcomes the progress achieved so far with regards to the four Covid-19 EU financial instruments

Minister for Finance and Financial Services Edward Scicluna, together with the Finance Ministers of the European Union, participated in an informal Ecofin videoconference on the 19th of May 2020, to discuss the AML/CFT Communication recently issued by the European Commission and the Recovery Fund.

PRESS RELEASE BY THE MINISTRY FOR FINANCE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES

“Malta is certainly in favour of achieving greater clarity and harmonisation on the application of AML/CFT requirements across all EU member states through the creation of an EU authority or agency, which could be part of the mechanism to achieve better coordination and cooperation between EU AML/CFT supervisors,” stated Minister Scicluna.

Such an agency should see the involvement and strengthening of national AML/CFT supervisors since these have regular interaction with obliged entities and have enforcement and sanctioning powers over them. To achieve this, a gap analysis may be needed to better assess pending obstacles to information sharing and joint actions that could be effectively addressed through legislation. There should also be the necessary structures and technological means to carry out data sharing and data analysis in an effective manner.

Malta also supports the Commission in having significant synergies with the FATF (de)listing process while retaining the EU’s ability to act independently in those circumstances that require action to protect the EU.

During the meeting, the Finance Ministers also took stock of the progress made on measures to respond to the COVID-19 crisis at the EU level, including the EIB’s pan-European guarantee fund.

Minister Scicluna said, “Malta welcomes the progress achieved so far with regards to the four EU financial instruments. We support the EIB’s pan-European guarantee fund, that could support financing for companies encountering problems due to the COVID-19 crisis, with a focus on SMEs, the SURE Programme for the protection of employment, the ESM Credit lines and the common recovery instrument at the EU level.”

“Malta strongly believes that the recovery plan must be treated holistically and that the entire Multiannual Financial Framework, including the Recovery Fund, are agreed to as soon as possible. Malta is open to discussions but is ready to seek a compromise to the benefit of the formidable challenges facing the EU in the months to come”.

Wednesday 20th May 2020