Saudis Say EU 'High Risk' Money Laundering List Is Not Final
(Bloomberg) -- Saudi Arabia sought to downplay the impact of the European Commission’s decision to include the kingdom in a black list of 23 countries posing higher risks of money laundering and terrorist financing.
Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan, in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency, pointed out that the decision isn’t final, and must first be approved by the European Parliament before taking effect.
“Saudi Arabia’s commitment to combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism is a strategic priority,” Al-Jadaan said. The kingdom also reaffirmed its commitment to joint global efforts to combat, according to SPA.
The commission on Wednesday said all regions listed should face stricter oversight to combat illicit financial flows. The U.S. Treasury said it has “significant concerns about the substance of the list and the flawed process by which it was developed.”
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