Global Daily Tax News, Eleven EU States Challenged On Beneficial Ownership Transparency, (Oct 3, 2025)

The European Commission has launched infringement proceedings against several member states for failing to fully notify national measures transposing the 6th Anti-Money Laundering Directive into national law.

Letters of formal notice have been issued to Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, and Sweden.

The provisions of the Directive must be transposed by different dates. In general, member states must transpose the major part of the Directive by July 10, 2027, when the 4th Anti-Money Laundering Directive as amended by the fifth one (Directive (EU) 2015/849) will be repealed.

By the first, July 10, 2025, deadline, member states were required to have guaranteed comprehensive access to information on the beneficial ownership of legal entities, trusts, or similar arrangements (including access by persons with a legitimate interest).

The Commission said: "The gradual implementation of the 6th Anti-Money Laundering Directive is key to preventing any vulnerabilities of their financial systems and ensuring that all member states consistently and effectively uphold their anti-money laundering standards.

Following the issuance of letters of formal notice, the member states have two months to implement the required changes or the Commission may decide to escalate infringement proceedings by issuing reasoned opinions.