| Summary: | 碩士 === 南華大學 === 歐洲研究所 === 94 === Money-laundering is at the heart of practically all criminal activity. It has being given strategic priority at European Union（EU）level. Evidence of the EU`s determination to tackle money-laundering is clear. The Tampere European Council in October 1999 stated ”Money laundering is at the very heart of organised crime. It should be rooted out whereever it occurs. The European Council is determined to ensure that concrete steps are taken to trace, freeze, seize and confiscate the proceeds of crime.” Further proof was demonstrated by the first ever joint EU Council of finance and Justice and Home Affairs Ministers in October 2000.Measures adopted to combat money laundering include the EU Council of Ministers` decision of October 2000 concerning arrangements for cooperation between financial intelligence units（FIUs）of the Member States and a Council Act of November 2000 amending the terms of the Europol Convention to extend the competence of Europol to money-laundering in general, not just drugs-related money-laundering.A second anti-money laundering Directive was agreed in December 2001. It amends the earlier 1991 Directive in two main respects. First, it windens the definition of criminal activity giving rise to money laundering to include all serious crimes. Second it applies to activities and professions beyond credit and financial institutions（which were covered by the 1991 Directive）such as accountants, lawyers, notaries, real estate agents, casino and dealers in high value goods. They are now subject to the same obligations as regards customer identification, record keeping and reporting of suspicious transactions.
In June 2003 the FATF agreed on a substantial revision of the Forty Recommendations to take account of experience acquired and the enhanced measures required to combat the phenomenon more effectively. For the sake of clarity it has been decided to repeal the existing Directive and propose a new autonomous text, including offences related to terrorism.
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