EU Adds Venezuela to ‘High-Risk’ Country List for Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing

The Venezuelan regime rejected its country’s inclusion on the list, calling it ‘ridiculous.’

The Berlaymont building, which houses the European Union Commission headquarters, and the Robert Schuman roundabout construction site in Brussels on June 13, 2025. Nicolas Tucat/AFP via Getty Images

The European Union added Venezuela to its list of “high-risk” jurisdictions on June 10 for money laundering and terrorist financing that pose significant threats to the EU financial system.

The European Commission issued a statement on the new list presented by the Directorate General for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union, calling on financial institutions to “apply enhanced surveillance in transactions involving these countries.”

The 10 countries on the list are Algeria, Angola, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Laos, Lebanon, Monaco, Namibia, Nepal, and Venezuela. Barbados, Gibraltar, Jamaica, Panama, the Philippines, Senegal, Uganda, and the United Arab Emirates were removed from the list.

The European Commission noted that a “thorough technical assessment, based on specific criteria and a well‑defined methodology,” was carried out to update the list, using input from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), particularly for its list of “Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring,” with information gathered through bilateral dialogues and visits to the countries concerned.

“Alignment with FATF is important for upholding the EU’s commitment to promoting and implementing global standards,” it noted.

The commission indicated that the list was updated in accordance with the requirements of Article 9 of the Fourth Anti-Money Laundering Directive, which requires the commission to regularly update the list of high-risk third-country jurisdictions.

The measure will come into force after its assessment and approval by the European Parliament and the council within one month, which may be extended by one more month.

EU and member state legislators have up to two months to challenge the new list.

“Identifying and listing high-risk jurisdictions remains an essential tool for preserving the integrity of the EU’s financial system,” Maria Luís Albuquerque, European Commissioner for Financial Services, told The Brussels Times.

A report submitted by the CASLA Institute to the Organization of American States (OAS) on May 15 denounced the crimes against humanity committed by the current Venezuelan government to repress the opposition and maintain its hold on power.

The Venezuelan regime, led by Nicolás Maduro, rejected its country’s inclusion on the list, calling it “ridiculous.”

“What does represent a real risk is the European Union’s own capacity to protect its interests, its economy, and its dignity,” the Maduro government stated on June 10.

The statement describes Venezuela as “a growing economy, with political stability and institutions for the people.”

However, the Casla Institute’s 2024–2025 annual report, presented by the institute’s executive director, Tamara Suju, in May at the OAS headquarters in Washington, described Venezuela as a country under state repression and transnational organized crime and called for government officials to be prosecuted for crimes against humanity.

“The regime’s ability to incorporate institutions and organizations into its strategy of controlling power has been essential to keeping its criminal structure intact,” the report states.

To date, nearly 8 million Venezuelans have fled the country, fleeing repression and the lack of decent opportunities to survive.