August 2025

by Adela Nuță

At the beginning of July 2025, the Government of Romania released a draft decision regarding the National Strategy for the Prevention and Combating of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing 2025–2030 (The Strategy). This strategic document is designed to reflect Romania’s international commitments in the AML/CFT field and comes in the context of increasing global and European efforts to combat these phenomena. The need for the strategy is driven by the major risks associated with financial crime and terrorism, highlighted both internally (via the recent National Risk Assessment) and internationally (through FATF standards and Moneyval evaluations). Moreover, the 5th Round Moneyval Evaluation Report emphasized the importance of a unified strategic approach, noting the absence of a comprehensive policy framework to counter terrorist financing. As a result, Romanian authorities established an inter-institutional Committee to develop the Strategy and its accompanying action plan, ensuring a common strategic vision across all competent institutions.

Strategic objectives

The Strategy outlines six general strategic objectives, each broken down into specific targets and related measures aimed at strengthening the national AML/CFT system:

I. Enhancing institutional capacity for the prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorist financing
II. Strengthening the national legal framework
III. Improving risk assessment processes
IV. Promoting a national AML/CFT culture
V. Strengthening the criminal justice response
VI. Developing internal and international

Each general objective is detailed in the Strategy with specific targets and corresponding actions, laying out concrete directions to follow.

This structure based on general and specific objectives ensures a systematic approach that clearly identifies shortcomings to be addressed and outlines concrete steps for each strategic direction, bringing clarity and coherence to national efforts to combat money laundering.

Involved institutions
The implementation of the Strategy represents a coordinated institutional effort at national level, involving multiple public authorities. Key institutions with essential roles in preventing and combating money laundering include, by way of example, the National Office for the Prevention and Combatting of Money Laundering (ONPCSB), the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI), the National Agency for Fiscal Administration (ANAF), the National Bank of Romania (BNR), the Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF), and the National Gambling Office (ONJN).

To ensure coordination among the institutions involved, the Government Decision provides for the establishment of an inter-institutional working group responsible for monitoring the implementation of the action plan in each authority’s area of competence. Each institution appoints an implementation coordinator and a technical point of contact in charge of progress reporting. The ONPCSB plays a central role in aggregating these efforts and reports biannually to the Government on the implementation status of the Strategy and its action plan.

Action plan
In order to illustrate the practical application of the Strategy’s directions, there are key examples which can be retained from each chapter of the Action Plan, corresponding to each general objective:

Objective 1 Example: A priority project corresponding to this objective is the implementation of an integrated IT system across the ONPCSB and its partner institutions, capable of enabling automated, interconnected, and analytical processing of relevant financial information. Specifically, the plan involves developing and integrating IT solutions designed to ensure the receipt, processing, and advanced analysis of data (including in standardized formats), in order to improve early detection of suspicious transactions and supporting financial investigations. It also refers to the digitalisation of access by criminal investigation authorities to financial records and the interconnection of dedicated IT systems, with a view to consolidating a coherent national platform for the prevention and combating of money laundering.

Objective 2 Example: Revision of national legislation to incorporate new European requirements and recommendations from international evaluations. A notable example is preparing the necessary amendments to align with the European AML legislative package (Regulation on the prevention of money laundering, AML Directive No. VI etc.), ensuring simultaneous application of national and European provisions. At the same time, the Plan envisages an update of the sanctions and procedural framework: from the explicit introduction of the obligation to declare cash amounts at the internal borders of the EU, to the adjustment of criminal procedure legislation in order to facilitate the access of investigation bodies to financial data and the swift freezing of suspect accounts.

Objective 3 Example: The update of the National Risk Assessment (NRA) on money laundering and terrorist financing and the consolidation of mechanisms for identifying emerging risks. According to the Plan, the ONPCSB, together with the supervisory authorities, will revise the NRA at least once every two years, or whenever significant changes occur, in order to reflect new vulnerabilities (e.g., misuse of virtual asset platforms, unconventional terrorist financing methods). A dedicated risk assessment working group will collaborate with private-sector experts and international organizations to provide a comprehensive and current risk picture.

Objective 4 Example: A key initiative in reaching this objective is awareness and training campaigns for both the general public and professionals in high-risk regulated sectors, particularly in areas exposed to systemic risks of money laundering and terrorist financing (e.g., drug trafficking, human trafficking, environmental crimes, VASP – virtual asset service providers, the real estate sector, or unregulated services). Under ONPCSB’s guidance, a National Guide on Suspicion Indicators will be developed for financial institutions, other reporting entities and interested public. The Guide will include relevant case studies (e.g., offshore companies, circular crypto transactions, misuse of cash or intermediaries) and will provide clear recommendations on identifying, documenting, and reporting risks.

Objective 5 Example: In order to boost the investigation of money laundering crimes, specialized joint teams (consisting of prosecutors, judicial police officers, financial analysts and IT specialists) will be formed to conduct parallel financial investigations (simultaneously with the criminal investigation but focused on the money flows). Emphasis will be placed on the effective application of special and extended confiscation measures (including assets transferred to third parties or held abroad), by ensuring the early identification and freezing of assets from the initial stages of the investigation. In support of this objective, the expertise of ANABI (the National Agency for the Management of Seized Assets) will be leveraged, as the institution responsible for the management and national registration of seized assets.
Objective 6 Example: The interconnection of IT systems and the rapid exchange of information with international partners. The Action Plan proposes the development of a national hub for financial information exchange between Romanian competent authorities (e.g., ONPCSB, BNR, ANAF, judicial police authorities), allowing secure and rapid sharing of alerts and operational data regarding suspicious transactions, high-risk entities, or new money laundering typologies. This hub is intended to be interconnected with international networks, in particular with FIU.net (the EU electronic cooperation platform for financial intelligence units) and the Egmont Group (the global network of FIUs).

Conclusions

The National Strategy 2025–2030 on the prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorist financing marks a significant step in strengthening Romania’s capacity to address the complex challenges posed by financial crime. With clearly defined objectives and a structured action plan, the Strategy offers a unified framework for the many institutions involved, moving away from previously fragmented approaches. Its successful implementation will help protect the integrity of the national financial system, boost international partners’ confidence in Romania’s efforts and align our country with the best European and global practices.

Looking ahead to 2030, this AML/CFT Strategy reflects the Romanian authorities’ firm commitment to intensifying the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing, in a synchronized effort with the international community. Its consistent implementation will strengthen Romania’s legal and institutional resilience against financial crime, safeguard public and economic order, and send a clear message: Romania does not tolerate “dirty money” and will use all available legal instruments to detect, seize, and neutralise it. The outlook is thus optimistic, provided there is close cooperation among authorities, the business community, and society at large, in the spirit of legality and shared responsibility for a more secure and financially sound future.

The article is available in Romanian HERE.

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