On November 28, 2016, the Council of the EU published a Commission Delegated Regulation (C(2016) 7495 final) amending Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1675 supplementing the Fourth Money Laundering Directive ((EU) 2015/849) (“MLD4“) by identifying high-risk third countries with strategic deficiencies.

The Commission adopted Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1675 in July 2016. The Delegated Regulation, for the first time, identified high-risk third countries with strategic anti-money laundering (“AML“) and counter-terrorist financing (“CTF“) deficiencies. The Commission advised at the time that it had taken into account the most recent Financial Action Task Force (“FATF“) public statements and that it would review the list, where appropriate.

The explanatory memorandum to the new Delegated Regulation explains that, as stressed in recital 28 to MLD4, the Commission will adapt its assessment to changes made to information sources from international organizations and standard setters, such as those issued by the FATF. As a consequence, the Commission aims to update the list to reflect the progress, or the lack of progress, made by high-risk third countries in removing the strategic deficiencies.

According to this latest information available to the Commission, it was found that Guyana has made significant progress on AML and CTF matters. On the basis of the progress made, with Guyana substantially completing all the action plan items agreed upon with the FATF, the FATF decided to conduct an on-site visit to Guyana to confirm that implementation had begun and that there is political commitment to continue to strengthen the AML and CTF regime. The FATF on‑site visit concluded that Guyana has a legal and institutional framework in place that addresses the strategic deficiencies of its AML and CTF regime. As a result, the FATF has removed Guyana from its document Improving global AML/CTF compliance: ongoing process.

The Commission’s analysis has similarly concluded that Guyana should no longer be considered to be a third country with strategic AML and CTF deficiencies. As a result, it is removing Guyana from the list of high-risk third countries under MLD4.

The Commission adopted the Delegated Regulation on November 24, 2016. The new Delegated Regulation states that it will enter into force the day after it is published in the Official Journal of the EU (OJ).