Baku (Azerbaijan), -
The Supervisory and Financial Information Authority (ASIF) took part in the Plenary Meeting of the Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units, held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 5 to 10 July 2026.
Throughout the week, meetings of the working groups, plenary sessions, and various technical and training initiatives were conducted, all dedicated to strengthening international cooperation among Financial Intelligence Units.
The Plenary provided an important opportunity for dialogue with FIUs from other jurisdictions, with partner international organizations, and with the observer bodies of the Egmont Group regarding the principal emerging challenges in the field of preventing and countering money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing.
The Information Exchange Working Group (IEWG) examined a series of strategic projects aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of international cooperation and information exchange among FIUs, addressing topics such as strategic intelligence, new risks related to terrorist financing, the fight against environmental crime, and the evolution of financial-analysis methodologies.
During the meeting of the Europe II Regional Group—of which ASIF is a member—the Director of ASIF, Dr Federico Antellini Russo, presented the new Statute of the Supervisory and Financial Information Authority, promulgated by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV and entered into force in June 2026. Particular attention was devoted to the provisions further strengthening ASIF’s autonomy, independence, and accountability, in accordance with the Egmont Charter and the principles governing the activity of the members of the Egmont Group.
On the margins of the Plenary, ASIF also signed new Memoranda of Understanding with several Financial Intelligence Units, contributing to the further expansion of its network of international cooperation and to the strengthening of channels for information exchange.
