REPORT on the proposal for the appointment of the Chair of the Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism

PR_NLE_EconGov

CONTENTS

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PROPOSAL FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DECISION

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEURS HAVE RECEIVED INPUT

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION IN COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

PROPOSAL FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DECISION

on the proposal for the appointment of the Chair of the Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism

(N10-0050/2024 - C10-0210/2024 - 2024/0802(NLE))

(Approval)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the proposal of the Commission of 4 December 2024 (C10-0210/2024),

- having regard to Article 68(1) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1620 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 May 2024 establishing the Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism and amending Regulations (EU) No 1093/2010, (EU) No 1094/2010 and (EU) No 1095/2010[1],

- having regard to its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (A10-0032/2024),

A. whereas Article 68(1) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1620 provides that the Chair of the Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism shall be selected on the basis of merit, skills, knowledge, integrity, recognised standing and experience in the area of AML/CFT and other relevant qualifications;

B. whereas Parliament is committed to ensuring gender balance in executive positions in Union institutions, bodies and agencies; whereas all Union and national institutions and bodies should implement concrete measures to ensure gender balance;

C. whereas in accordance with Article 68(1) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1620, on 9 October 2024 the Commission adopted a shortlist of candidates for the position of Chair of the Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism and the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs held hearings with those shortlisted candidates on 25 November 2024;

D. whereas in accordance with Article 68(1) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1620, the Commission provided the shortlist to Parliament on 9 October 2024;

E. whereas on 4 December 2024, the Commission adopted a proposal to appoint Ms Bruna Szego as Chair of the Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism and transmitted that proposal to Parliament;

F. whereas the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs then proceeded to evaluate the credentials of the proposed candidate for the position of Chair of the Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism, in particular in view of the requirements laid down in Article 68 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1620;

G. whereas on 16 December 2024, the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs held a hearing with Ms Bruna Szego, at which she made an opening statement and then answered questions put by members of the Committees;

1. Approves the proposal for the appointment of Ms Bruna Szego as Chair of the Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism;

2. Instructs its President to forward this decision to the Council, the Commission, the Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism and the governments of the Member States.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

This report has been drawn up following the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs' and the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs' exercise of the powers granted to Parliament under Regulation (EU) No 2024/1620, in particular Article 68(1) thereof.

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEURS HAVE RECEIVED INPUT

The rapporteurs declare under their exclusive responsibility that they did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION IN COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE