AME (Anti-Money Laundering Europe) held their biannual meeting at the offices of the CCBE in Brussels. The roundtable discussion on Future Policy on Combatting Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing looked at some of the lessons learned from the 4th AML Directive and what the future of EU policy will be.

We are currently looking for a social media & community manager for a full-time assignment with the European Commission. Please visit Work with us section for further details. We look forward to hearing from you!

 This event will provide a forum to discuss the growing role of public/private information-sharing mechanisms to tackle financial crime around the world as well as the barriers, opportunities and progress across Europe in developing such mechanisms. It will also provide a forum for exploring the balance with privacy and proportionality around these new capabilities.

The EU cohesion policy has been a major driver of change in Bulgaria for the last 10 years.  Since its EU accession in 2007, Bulgaria has benefited from the Union’s Structural Funds at an increased speed - these funds has contributed significantly to the Bulgarian economy with positive effects on employment, economic development, modernization of  infrastructure, etc.

Schuman Associates has participated in the roundtable organized by Polityka Insight in Warsaw. Industry representatives gathered with Minister of Digitization Anna Streżyńska, Deputy Minister of Development Jerzy Kwieciński, and the head of Office of Electronic Communications, Marcin Cichy to discuss the main challenges and opportunities for mobile technologies investments in Poland. 

The European Commission set up a Support Facility for the Broadband Competence Offices (BCOs). The Brussels-based facility is starting its operations in January 2017 and will help BCOs to share their experiences in a European network. Read the interview with Jan Dröge from Schuman Associates, who is starting up the support facility.

The European Development Days (EDD) are Europe’s leading forum on development and international cooperation. Organised by the European Commission, the forum brings the development community together to share ideas and experiences in ways that inspire new partnerships and innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.

On 13 December 2016, the Council approved the EU's legislative priorities for 2017 agreed beforehand with the European Parliament and the Commission. This agreement on top priorities between the Council, the Parliament and the Commission is a first in EU history. The objective is to provide a coordinated framework where the EU institutions work more closely together to tackle the significant challenges, which lie ahead.

Schuman Associates organised for the Nickel Institute a breakfast briefing in the European Parliament on the 10th of November 2016 on the “Impact of REACH Authorisation: costs and benefits”. The breakfast briefing was hosted by the Nickel Institute and MEP Inge Gräßle with the cooperation of MEP Gieseke, the European Commission, ECHA, eftec and the Maltese Presidency of the European Council 2017 as well as the European Committee for Surface Treatment (CETS).  

Schuman Associates as the secretariat of Anti-Money Laundering Europe together with the CFCS at RUSI organised a policy debate around the EU policy challenges that are currently being debated particularly around the amendments of the 4th Anti-Money Laundering Directive, renamed as the 5th AMLD.

On 7 December, we will be holding a key debate on the upcoming policy challenges in money laundering and terrorist financing. To debate some of the issues such as information sharing and the implications of FinTech, MEP Judith Sargentini and the Financial Action Task Force will be joining us.

On 23 June 2016, the United Kingdom expressed via a Referendum its wish to leave the European Union, triggering a complex process of withdrawal. 

The final arrangement, to be agreed between the UK and the EU in the coming months and years, will have a significant impact on trade and a whole host of other issues. Participation in EU funding programmes such as Horizon 2020 will also present challenges for British organisations.

Schuman Associates Madrid Office...Did you know?

Did you know that in 2016 Spain celebrates 30 years being in the EU?

The European Commission published today an updated work programme for 2017 of Horizon 2020, the EU’s research and innovation funding scheme. In the course of 2017, the Commission will invest €8.5 billion in a number of cross cutting initiatives, such as: Circular Economy (€325 million), Smart and Sustainable Cities (€115 million), Green Vehicles (€133 million) and Internet of Things (€37 million). The major novelty of the new programme is the introduction of open research data in all new Horizon 2020 calls, making the free online access to scientific data the norm. The new programme will also support research of migration trends and policies and will increase funding for cutting-edge research.

Schuman Associates Warsaw Office...Did you know?

This Thursday, Schuman Associates through its platform Anti-Money Laundering Europe will organise an event on the EU Action Plan 'to strengthen the fight against the financing of terrorism'. Information sharing features heavily on the agenda, with Europol delivering the keynote speech. The vote for Brexit leaves some questions as to the type of relationship of sharing and collaborating the UK will have with the EU. The UK is currently implementing the 4th Anti-Money Laundering Directive which is based on FATF standards and overall financial crime policies implemented by the EU follow standards or recommendations by the UN and OECD. So while Brexit does present some questions for the UK on the future of cooperation with the EU and the implementation of the EU Action Plan, but also it poses questions for the EU. What affects the EU policy will have without the UK setting an example for other Member States in this area? We look forward to debating this new dimension at the conference. For further information see the agenda below and for more insights on the Brexit and EU policy please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Twitter Conversation can be followed via the following hashtags: #CTFConfEP #TerroristFinancing

Schuman Associates was honoured to respond to the invitation of The Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands in Poland and the Netherlands-Polish Chamber of Commerce and to participate in the international conference “Transforming healthcare. EU funding for strategic innovation and development projects. Dutch and Polish experiences” that took place on the 14th of June in Warsaw.

Schuman Associates was honored to participate as speaker in the “IoT 2016 Madrid Forum” with its theme of "IoT: Innovation & Technology"organized by Executive Forum, on the 2nd of June, in Madrid.

The Commission has recently presented its long awaited list of priority initiatives for 2016. These strategic policy measures are launched in the context of the EU Work Programmes 2015 and 2016. Many of these initiatives will form the next wave of EU law  or will serve as the basis to reshape existing legislation.