(1)

The Union must effectively protect the integrity and proper functioning of its financial system and the internal market against money laundering and terrorist financing. Directive (EU) 2015/849 therefore provides that the Commission is to identify third country jurisdictions that have strategic deficiencies in their anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) regimes that pose significant threats to the Union’s financial system (‘high-risk third countries’).

(2)

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1675 (2) identifies such high-risk third countries.

(3)

Considering the high level of integration of the international financial system, the close connection of market operators, the high volume of cross-border transactions to and from the Union, and the degree of market openness, any AML/CFT threat posed to the international financial system is also a threat to the Union’s financial system.

(4)

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/1393 (3) recognises that third countries which are not publicly identified as subject to calls for action or increased monitoring by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) might still pose a threat to the integrity of the Union’s financial system, especially where membership of such countries in FATF is suspended because of gross violations of the core principles upon which FATF is built. Pursuant to Article 1a of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/1184 (4), the Commission is to conclude the review of such third countries by 31 December 2025, to assess whether to amend the Annex to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1675 accordingly.

(5)

The FATF membership of the Russian Federation (‘Russia’) was suspended on account of its gross violation of the FATF’s core principles. Thus, Russia falls within the criteria of the assessment pursuant to Article 1a of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/1184. Considering that the weaknesses in the Russian AML/CFT regime might pose a serious threat to the Union’s financial system, the Commission, in cooperation with the European External Action Service, and Member States’ authorities, has completed a prima facie assessment of the country’s AML/CFT regime.

(6)

The assessment has identified a number of strategic deficiencies, notably relating to Russia’s laws and policies in the area of the independence of the Financial Intelligence Unit and its ability to cooperate with counterparts in other countries, Russia’s laws and policies in the area of beneficial ownership transparency and information availability and accuracy, and Russia’s laws and policies in the area of applying AML/CFT regulation to crypto-assets. Such deficiencies expose the Single Market to ML/TF risks which should be mitigated.

(7)

The Commission therefore concludes that Russia is to be identified as a high-risk third country and should be added to the Annex to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1675. As Russia does not fit into any of the categories of high-risk third countries set out in the Annex to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1675, a new category should be added to that Annex for high-risk third countries which are not identified as being subject to calls for action or increased monitoring by the FATF, but whose membership in that international standard-setter is suspended.

(8)

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1675 should therefore be amended accordingly,