The Gibraltar Financial Intelligence Unit (GFIU) participated in the 31st Egmont Group Plenary, held in Luxembourg and hosted by the Cellule de Renseignement Financier (CRF), FIU Luxembourg.

The plenary, which coincided with the group’s 30-year anniversary, welcomed more than 600 delegates from over 180 Egmont Group member FIUs, alongside observer organisations and international partners. 

The theme, “Egmont Group at 30: The future of international coordination in AML and CFT,” reflected the group’s long-term vision for strengthening cross-border cooperation and adapting to emerging global threats. This forward-looking theme encouraged dialogue on how FIUs can strengthen legal frameworks and ensure resilience in the face of rapid geopolitical and technological change. 

As part of this year’s plenary, the Director of the GFIU Edgar Lopez nominated the GFIU’s Head of Operations Carl Ramagge to serve as Vice-Chair of the Egmont Group’s Policies and Procedures Working Group (PPWG). This nomination was confirmed by consensus, and reflects Gibraltar’s growing technical leadership and brings to the Working Group legal expertise and financial intelligence experience, complementing the Egmont Group’s strategic vision. 

The PPWG plays a critical role in maintaining the operational integrity and procedural coherence of Egmont’s internal functioning. Mr Ramagge’s appointment presents an opportunity not only for his personal and professional development at the leadership level within the Egmont Group, but also for Gibraltar to further raise its international profile as a contributor to effective financial intelligence standards and best practices worldwide. 

Mr Ramagge said: “It is an honour to serve the Egmont Group in this capacity. I look forward to supporting the evolution of Egmont’s internal policies while contributing to the broader efforts in protecting the international financial system from abuse.” 

Mr Lopez, added: “I am delighted to have nominated Mr Ramagge for this position and that he has been selected to assume this important role within Egmont. His background in law and intelligence will bring a valuable perspective to the PPWG’s work.” 

The Minister for Justice, the Hon Nigel Feetham KC MP, said: “Mr Ramagge’s selection at the Egmont Group once again demonstrates the great work the GFIU continues to deliver both locally and on the international stage. It is encouraging to see Gibraltar’s leadership and technical expertise recognised internationally.” 

The GFIU also signed a Statement of Principles with the United for Wildlife. This allows the GFIU to join a growing network of financial institutions and intelligence agencies aligned in the fight against the global threat to biodiversity, wildlife and security. 

During the Europe II Regional Group session, the GFIU’s Director also updated members on the development of a project co-led by Gibraltar and Azerbaijan. This project focuses on a horizontal analysis of MONEYVAL Mutual Evaluation Reports, specifically assessing performance across FATF Immediate Outcome 2 (International Cooperation) and Immediate Outcome 6 (Use of Financial Intelligence). 

The Plenary also featured a range of forward-thinking discussions and knowledge-sharing events, including: 

• Strategic sessions on FIU autonomy, resourcing, and the future of secure information exchange, with a view to reinforcing the operational independence of financial intelligence units globally. 

• Thematic workshops hosted by the CRF, offering in-depth exchanges on public-private partnerships, advanced data analytics, and approaches to asset recovery. 

The Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units is a global network of 181 member FIUs dedicated to the secure exchange of financial intelligence to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, and related threats to the integrity of the global financial system. The Group’s activities focus on operational cooperation, capacity building, and the development of common standards through its various working groups and projects.