On 21-22 April 2005 the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA) is organising a third seminar, which will take place in Maastricht (NL). This is one of a series of seminars related to financial services, initiated by EIPA in 2001.

Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorist Financing Efforts in the EU: Recent Developments

This seminar will address new efforts to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. This will include forms of cooperation and exchange of information between the public and private sectors and between EU Member States (and beyond, of course). Furthermore, it will focus on recent developments in European legislation, enforcement and current EU policies, the impact of the recently revised FATF 40 Recommendations, with the new Special Recommendations on Terrorist Financing, and other interesting subjects.
 
The speakers will include representatives of the European institutions, FATF, banks, the United Nations and the Council of Europe, as well as other experts. The seminar is targeted at those who are involved in anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing efforts in the private sphere, e.g. people working within financial institutions (banks) and those responsible for compliance and reporting, and in the public sphere, such as persons responsible for the enforcement and implementation of regulations.
 
The seminar will be held in English.

The European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA) is pleased to announce a third seminar on anti-money laundering. This new seminar is one of a series of seminars related to financial services, initiated by EIPA in 2001. In view of recent developments in the final completion of the Financial Services Action Plan (in 2004) and in response to an increased need to be informed about issues related to the wider financial services area, the seminars address issues relevant both to the private and to the public sector.

The fight against money laundering and terrorist financing is a political priority for the European Union. Recent developments have led to including terrorist financing in the subjects more fully addressed in the seminar. “Terrorist financing, like money laundering and corruption, is accomplished through various techniques which abuse financial markets. Safeguarding the transparency of money flows of both formal and informal sector value transfers is a key element in disrupting both money laundering and terrorist financing. Protecting the world’s financial systems by effectively implementing international standards to combat terrorist financing and money laundering techniques remains […] the highest priority.” (Jochen Sanio, President of the FATF).

The third anti-money laundering seminar will address new efforts to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. This includes forms of cooperation and exchange of information between the public and private sectors and between EU Member States (and beyond of course). Furthermore, it will focus on recent developments in European legislation, enforcement and current policies. The US Patriot Act will also be discussed, as well as the impact of the recently revised FATF 40 Recommendations, with the new Special Recommendations on Terrorist Financing.

The following topics will be covered:
· The new, third, EU Directive on money laundering (text approved by the Ecofin Council of December 2004) to be discussed in the European Parliament in the spring of 2005;
· The role of the United Nations Conventions;
· The FATF 40 Recommendations and the Special Recommendations on Terrorist Financing;
· The role of the EU’s anti-terrorism coordinator and the recently adopted recommendations to the European Council of 16/17 December 2004;
· The USA Patriot Act;
· The role of Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs);
· The role of the Council of Europe;
· The role of Europol.
· Any other related issues as they develop.

All those involved in the actions to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing in banks, financial institutions, regulators, lawyers, accountants, consultants, etc. will find the seminar of high interest and relevance to their daily work.

PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME

Thursday 21 April 2005

08.45 Registration of Participants

09.00 Welcome
Rita Beuter, Expert and Head of Unit ‘European Policies’, EIPA, Maastricht (NL)

09.15 Introduction to the Seminar: A Brief Overview of Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorist Financing Efforts
Adriana Holtslag-Alvarez, Senior Visiting Lecturer in Financial Services and Project Leader, EIPA, Maastricht (NL)
 
09.45 The Role of the Financial Action Task Force: the 40 plus 9 Recommendations
Kevin Vandergrift, Administrator, Financial Action Task Force (FATF), OECD, Paris (F) (invited)

10.45 Discussion     

11.15 Coffee break

11.45 The Proposed Third EU Money Laundering Directive: almost there
Joeb Rietrae, DG Internal Market, European Commission, Brussels (B)

12.45 Discussion

13.00 Lunch

14.30 United Nations Conventions
Anders Cedhagen, Global Programme against Money Laundering (GPML)
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Vienna (A) and External Expert to the FIU.NET Bureau, Zoetermeer (NL)

15.30 Discussion

16.00 Coffee break

16.30 The Role of the Financial Services Authority. Experiences of a National Regulator in the AML and CFT Efforts
Philip Robinson, Financial Services Authority (FSA), London (UK)

17.30 Discussion

18.00 End of first day

19.30  Dinner at a restaurant in Maastricht

Friday 22 April 2005

09.00 Financial Crime – Someone Else’s Problem? How can Firms help?
John Mair, Group Financial Crime Director, Lloyds TSB Group plc, London (UK)

10.00 Discussion

10.30 Coffee break

11.00 The Role of the Council of Europe: the new CoE Convention
John Ringguth, Economic Crime Division, Department of Crime Problems, DG I – Legal Affairs, Council of Europe, Strasbourg (F)

11.45 The Role of the EU Anti-Terrorism Co-ordinator
Patricia Holland, Principal Adviser, Office of the Counter-Terrorism Coordinator, Council of the European Union, General, Brussels (B)

12.30 Discussion

13.00 Lunch

14.15 The US Patriot Act: “Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism”
N.N.
 
15.15 The Role of EUROPOL
Mauro Falesiedi (invited)
 
16.15 Discussion

16.45 Evaluation and Closure of the Seminar

GENERAL INFORMATION

The programme will commence on Thursday 21 April at 09.00 hrs and finish on Friday 22 April at 16.45 hrs.

The seminar will take place in the Green Conference Room (1.45) at the European Institute of Public Administration, O.L. Vrouweplein 22, NL-6211 HE Maastricht, tel.: +31.43.3296222, fax: +31.43.3296296.

Working language: the seminar will be conducted in English.

The participation fee is EUR 750 and includes documentation, 2 lunches, 1 dinner and refreshments. Accommodation and travel costs are at the expense of the participants or their administration.

Hotel reservations
The European Institute of Public Administration will be pleased to make reservations for you at a hotel in Maastricht. We have made a block booking at 2 hotels in Maastricht: Hotel La Bergère**** (located at ± 10 min. walking distance) (www.la-bergere.com), at a rate of EUR 98 p.p.p.n. (incl. breakfast and tourist tax), and Hotel Derlon**** (situated opposite EIPA) (www.derlon.com), at a rate of EUR 107 p.p.p.n. (incl. breakfast and tourist tax). Should you wish to make use of this possibility, please indicate the name of the hotel and the dates of arrival and departure on the registration form. Payment is to be made directly and personally to the hotel on checking out. Please note that if you register after the closing date, hotel reservations cannot be guaranteed.

Meals
The lunches will be served  at the Institute’s restaurant and dinner in the evening will be at a restaurant in town. Should you require a special menu (e.g. vegetarian, diabetic), please inform the Programme Organiser so that this can be arranged.

Registration
Kindly complete the registration form and return it before 1 April 2005 to Ms Noëlle Debie, Programme Organiser, European Institute of Public Administration, P.O. Box 1229, NL-6201 BE Maastricht, tel.: +31.43.3296226, fax: +31.43.3296296, e-mail: n.debie@eipa-nl.com. You can also submit the online registration form which can be found on EIPA’s web site: http://www.eipa.nl (conferences).

Confirmation
Confirmation of registration will be forwarded to participants on receipt of the completed registration form.

Payment
Prior payment is a condition for participation. Please indicate the method of payment on the registration form. For cancellations received after the date indicated on the registration form we will have to charge an administration fee of EUR 150 unless a replacement participant is found.